China Defers New Zealand Tourism Event Amid Concerns of a Diplomatic Rift

China Defers New Zealand Tourism Event Amid Concerns of a Diplomatic Rift
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern smiles as she attends the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 22, 2019. Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters
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WELLINGTON—China has postponed a major tourism campaign in New Zealand days before its launch, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Beijing has been further delayed as concerns mount of strained ties over China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

Ardern on Feb. 12 acknowledged there were ‘complexities’ in the relationship with China, but dismissed concerns of a rift with New Zealand’s largest trading partner.