The diplomatic row between the Cook Islands and New Zealand over the China deal the Cook Islands is set to sign in the coming week continues despite brief talks over the phone between the leaders from the two countries.

In a statement released this afternoon, a spokesperson for New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said the Cook Islands failed to properly consult New Zealand with respect to any agreements it plans to sign this coming week in China.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown left Rarotonga for Beijing with his delegation on Friday (Cook Islands time) for a state visit from February 10-14.

Brown’s upcoming visit will include the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, a move that has drawn concerns from New Zealand due to a “lack of consultation”.

Cook Islands operates in free association with New Zealand. The country governs its own affairs but New Zealand provides assistance with foreign affairs (upon request), disaster relief and defence.

In a national address on Friday night, PM Brown said: “To those who have questioned the level of consultation with New Zealand, let me be clear, our engagement has been consistent, respectful, and open. I personally met with Prime Minister (Christopher) Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Peters in November last year.”

"Just last week, our government engaged directly with senior New Zealand officials, including the Director-General of the NZ Security Intelligence Service and the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. And yesterday I reach out to Deputy Prime Minister Peters and we spoke over the phone. Our dialogue is ongoing, as it has always been.”

A spokesperson for NZ Deputy Prime Minister confirmed PM Brown and DPM Peters spoke on the phone on Friday afternoon New Zealand time.

“During the phone call, Prime Minister Brown asked the Deputy Prime Minister what further information New Zealand required to assuage our concerns about the lack of consultation regarding the proposed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Cook Islands and China,” the spokesperson said.

“The Deputy Prime Minister, in the phone call and in writing within hours of the call, repeated to the Prime Minister a months-old request that the Government of the Cooks Islands share with New Zealand the contents of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and other agreements that Prime Minister Brown intends to sign in China, in line with the requirement for consultation in the 2001 Joint Centenary Declaration between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

“The Deputy Prime Minister also indicated to Prime Minister Brown that New Zealand can only fully verify the extent to which the proposed CSP with China presents risk to our core national interest by seeing the proposed text of the CSP and any other associated documents under discussion and by being given sufficient time to analyse them before they are agreed.”

The New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister indicated that consultation was only meaningful if it happened before an agreement was reached, not after the fact. Peters also reminded Prime Minister Brown of his government’s repeated undertakings to meet its consultation obligations with respect to the CSP.

This included the Prime Minister’s personal assurance, in earlier correspondence, that the Cook Islands respected its mutual security obligations as integral to its free association relationship with New Zealand and that he had directed his officials to meet with New Zealand counterparts to consider how New Zealand concerns could be addressed in a mutually satisfactory way.

“As of Sunday afternoon (NZ time), with Prime Minister Brown having now left the Cook Islands for China, no reply to the Deputy Prime Minister’s further request for fulsome consultation has been received. The time has now passed.

“We therefore view the Cook Islands as having failed to properly consult New Zealand with respect to any agreements it plans to sign this coming week in China.

“This lack of consultation is a matter of significant concern to the New Zealand government. We look forward to continuing discussions with the Government of the Cooks Islands on this important matter in the coming days and weeks.

“New Zealand deeply values its relationship with the Government and people of the Cook Islands. Cook Islanders are treasured members of the New Zealand family. The Deputy Prime Minister will continue to defend and protect the interests of Cook Islanders, in the context of New Zealand protecting the security and prosperity of all New Zealand citizens and of the Realm of New Zealand.”

In his national address, Prime Minister Brown said to those who suggest that the Cook Islands’ engagement with China is somehow secretive, “I reject that completely”.

“We have always conducted our international affairs with integrity and transparency. Every agreement we enter will be in the best interests of the Cook Islands, and our people will be fully informed every step of the way.”

Brown said the Cook Islands have long-standing relationships with its traditional partners New Zealand and Australia, and now with new and emerging partners, China, the United States, Korea, India Japan, and others.

“As a developed country now, we are required to engage with our development partners on an equal footing. These are usually done through bilateral cooperation arrangements and agreements. We have signed one with New Zealand and Australia and we look to sign one with all our development partners – which China being the next one off the block.

“New Zealand itself it’s own Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, which was signed 2014. Since 2017, China has been New Zealand’s largest trading partner, enjoying $40 billion dollar’s worth of trade between the two country’s, underpinned by their own Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

“Our approach is no different. We seek to strengthen partnerships that support our national development goals. This includes infrastructure, economic cooperation, and trade, just as we do with our other key development partners."

The Prime Minister said looking ahead, the focus must remain on economic sustainability, and growth.

“Our graduation to high-income status means that we must be innovative in securing the financial future of our country.

“Tourism remains our backbone, but we must continue diversifying. This means developing renewable energy, managing our seabed minerals sector responsibly, and expanding trade opportunities.

“The reality is, we must be financially independent. While we continue to value development support from partners like New Zealand, we must eventually be able to stand on our own two feet.

“Today, I want to reaffirm my commitment to transparency, partnership, and the Cook Islands people. My government is focused on building trust, ensuring our sovereignty, and strengthening our relationships—both with New Zealand and with the wider international community.

“I understand that uncertainty can create concern, and I acknowledge the need for open conversations about our future. I welcome that dialogue. I will continue engaging directly with our people to ensure that we are always moving forward together.

“To our partners in New Zealand, I remain committed to engaging with Prime Minister Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister Peters to address the challenges we face. Our relationship as two country’s must be based on trust and mutual respect.

“Let us not be deterred by the disagreements of the moment, but rather use them as an opportunity to deepen our dialogue and strengthen the relationship between our nations. I call on the leadership of New Zealand to join me in this commitment. Our world is complex, and it is only through collaboration, rather than confrontation, that we will overcome the challenges that lie ahead. We are ready to engage at any time, with respect, with humility, and with a shared desire for peace and prosperity.”