Asia & Pacific

NZ Leaders Skip Cook Islands Anniversary Even Concerned With Beijing Deals

The New Zealand government has also paused funding to the Pacific nation.
NZ Leaders Skip Cook Islands Anniversary Even Concerned With Beijing Deals
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Stephen Brown delivers a statement during the high level segment on day three of the UNFCCC COP29 Climate Conference at Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov. 13, 2024. Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Rex Widerstrom
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When the Cook Islands celebrated 50 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand, former Prime Minister John Key was a guest of honour.

A decade later not only will his successor, Christopher Luxon, not be attending the Islands’ 60th Constitution Day, but neither will New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.