Sixty years on from becoming self-governing, debate is raging in the Cook Islands about its political relationships with other countries.

“Cook Islands deal with China takes NZ Government by surprise!”

“Is Cook Islands-China deal shipshape?”

“Crisis in the region deepens!”

“Should New Zealand invade the Cook Islands?”

From the questionable to the downright dangerous (see Should New Zealand invade the Cook Islands? by Matthew Hooton), there have been many thousands of words written by the New Zealand media about the Cook Islands government’s “partnership and cooperation” agreements with China, recently inked in the Chinese city of Harbin.

So very many words – but precious few reporting what actual Cook Islanders (who are also New Zealand citizens) living in the Cook Islands think of the whole situation.

Mark Brown, the country’s prime minister, recently accused New Zealand media of creating “destabilisation” in the Cook Islands after he and his cabinet survived a vote of no confidence in parliament.

We spoke to locals in the Cook Islands to find out what they think.

Reg Potini, business owner/event specialist, Aitutaki

I fully support our government’s decision to enter into this agreement with China because it is a necessary step towards real progress for the Cook Islands. As a resident born and raised here, I see firsthand the struggles our people face every day. In Aitutaki, for example, our water system has barely changed since the beginning, despite increasing demands. 

Our government has made a bold and responsible move by looking for alternative partnerships. We cannot rely solely on traditional donors who have offered limited support in certain areas. We must think about the future of our people, and this agreement is a step in the right direction. 

Additionally, the New Zealand media needs to be more responsible in their reporting. Some of their headlines have unnecessarily panicked our people living overseas.

What frustrates me the most is that our government has been conducting public consultations on this for the past four years. I have personally been involved in government agency workshops throughout this process, so I know firsthand that this decision was not made overnight. There has been transparency, engagement and careful consideration of what is best for the Cook Islands.

Tere Carr, tourism business owner, Rarotonga

The lack of transparency from our prime minister on his China deals is appalling, and should be a matter of great concern for all Cook Islanders, whether at home or abroad. It has led to widespread speculation with the public calling out for transparency, yet he still continues to treat his own people as immaterial to his private dealings with China. 

The fact that New Zealand has been left out of the dialogue also reflects an arrogance that undermines the historical and special relationship between our two countries. Because of the PM’s actions, New Zealand residents are now questioning why they provide assistance to our country. Those planning holidays are also questioning why they should come to the Cook Islands if we are building a relationship with China. 

There is huge concern that these actions will impact our tourism industry, which in 2024 surpassed half a billion dollars generated for the economy by tourists, many of whom came from New Zealand. It is important for the public of New Zealand to know that our PM’s actions are his alone.

Vaine Wichman, development economist, Rarotonga/Tongareva/Aitutaki

I believe in our officials who drafted the various concept notes that may have not only been presented to China but to various other development friends.

To understand foreign affairs and policy you have to know some history – if you don’t you get easily wound up in the events of today without understanding what has evolved over the last 60 years.

For the Cook Islands, such an agreement with China or any other development partner will not be a new agreement. Various Cook Islands governments over the years have signed agreements directly with China.

The analogy is this: we’ve been sailing our vaka for years and all of a sudden, just as we are reaching the designated shores, we get held back not by waves and the normal calamities of sailing but by people too arrogant to seek the truth of the sailing plan and how we have come this far in our journey.

Ellena Tavioni, businesswoman, Rarotonga/Atiu

According to our constitution, our government should be transparent with the New Zealand government when they’re making deals like this, because of our special relationship and the fact that we are New Zealand citizens – which is only fair enough.

And furthermore I think it’s very important so our government doesn’t make mistakes – what we have in place with New Zealand is a good watchdog for us. We need it so much because of the small size of our country.

Have a look at Nauru – they’re selling their passports to survive, and Tonga used to sell their passports for $10,000 each. We don’t want to be reduced to that kind of desperateness.

I don’t see any problem with deals, but be transparent about it. It’s not so much about the agreement with China, it’s the way Mark Brown has gone about it. He’s made it look like it’s really dodgy, like a cheap deal or something. He’s made it look ugly. When it didn’t have to be. Didn’t have to be at all.

Niki Ramea, accommodation caretaker, Aitutaki

As a Cook Islander, I don’t like that there’s been a lot of secrecy around what’s in the agreement. It’s great that Mark Brown is going out there and trying to get a good deal for the country, but if he’s doing that he should be a bit more transparent with what’s being discussed. I don’t think that means we shouldn’t do some sort of a deal with China though. New Zealand’s had a free-trade agreement with China for almost 20 years now – they were one of the first. So that shouldn’t stop the Cook Islands from having their own deal, but the government needs to be clearer on what’s been discussed and what’s been signed.