There is a question that rests heavily on my heart – one that goes beyond politics and economics, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

We are a people who, in times of trouble, lashed and tied our vaka together to steady us through the storm. And when we did, we did so with those who shared a common goal, a common faith and purpose – where we could eat from each other’s table with reciprocity, love and security.

As we put pen to paper and tie our vaka with China, I ask the questions many of us, both inside and outside the Cook Islands, are asking: What do we have that China wants in exchange? We are not New Zealand, with its milk powder, beef, or mānuka honey, which brought in approximately NZ$38.67 billion in trade with China in 2023, with exports at NZ$20.76 billion and imports at NZ$17.16 billion.

We are not Australia, with its iron ore and vast cattle stations, conducting two-way trade with China valued at AU$327.2 billion in 2023. Australian exports to China amounted to AU$219 billion, while imports were valued at AU$108.2 billion.

We have no free trade agreement with China – no pipeline of goods binding us together in mutual dependence. And so, we must ask – what is it that China desires from us?

The answer is now clear, and it lies beneath our ocean. The seabed, scattered with manganese nodules – fragments of rare minerals that hold the promise of powering the future.

These nodules are not just rocks; they are the golden egg. Coveted by nations far larger than ours, these minerals fuel the technologies of tomorrow – the batteries and devices that will drive the world forward.

Let me be clear: I am not opposed to China because they are Chinese. There are many nations we need to be wary of and mindful of – some closer than we might imagine.

This is about trust. If we look back at every project China has undertaken in the Cook Islands, it is clear they have not upheld the mana of our agreements. They have not done what we asked, or at least what they agreed they would do for us.

It is not that it is China per se; it is that they have shown us who they are. Would it not be foolish to now imagine this relationship will end differently? Look around Rarotonga and point to a single project that has had a good outcome from our relationship with China. If you can, I am happy to recant my statements and apologise.

Sadly, I believe this is not the case. My clear and strong opposition to tying our vaka once again is not driven by any disdain for the Chinese people, their government, or their culture. It is simply because they have never done what we entrusted them to do – and why my answer is no.

But there is another path – one that calls us back to our teina across the moana. We can choose to haka with the taniwha. Not the one with a crown on its head and a sceptre in its hand, but the one with a taiaha and korowai, standing firm on its own whenua.

We have the opportunity to strengthen our ties with iwi like Ngāi Tahu and Tainui – those who share our values, our genealogical links and our commitment to whenua and moana. These are people we can trust and often led by our own Cook Islands Māori people.

These Iwi’s are fiscal powerhouses, leading major developments and investing in their future with boldness and vision. As of November 2024, Ngāi Tahu’s net assets were valued at approximately NZ$1.66 billion, with a strong focus on aquaculture, particularly through their seafood business, Ngāi Tahu Seafood.

As of 2023, Waikato-Tainui’s net worth was approximately NZ$1.76 billion, with total assets valued at around NZ$2.2 billion. Their landmark infrastructure projects include the Tainui-owned The Base shopping centre in Hamilton, the Novotel Auckland Airport Hotel, and a growing footprint in commercial and residential property development.

Country leaders choose who they tie their vaka to, but ultimately, it is the people who decide. And in 2026, that decision will rest with our people within the reef. But the effects of your decisions do not just stay within the reef; they are for us all to carry – for all of us who are blood and land tied to our Ipukarea, that place we call our Avaiki and our home.

Ta’au pouroa ka rave I teia ra, (All that you do today)

Ka tum ai apopo (will stand up tomorrow)

Ta’au pouroa ka ruru I teia ra, (All that you sow today)

Ka ata mai apopo (will be reflected in tomorrow)

Please choose wisely. Our ‘ina, our tamariki and our ‘ina ‘ina are counting on it.