Teariki Heather warns the minimum wage increase from NZ$9.50 to $10 from 1 July could harm the people the minimum wage policy ...

The funding cut leaves the Cook Islands facing a sudden financial shortfall, prompting warnings that Wellington's approach could backfire What began as a quiet series of infrastructure deals between ...

Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang meeting with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown in Harbin, China, February 2025 ...

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Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on Friday labelled the funding pause "patronising" and pointed out he had not been consulted on any agreements New Zealand entered with China this trip. Luxon ...

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested a double standard, saying he was “not privy to or consulted on” agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. New Zealand Foreign Minister ...

New Zealand has halted more than $18 million in development assistance to its realm country. But the island's prime minister said his government was "aware" it was coming.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown told lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday that the funding was “not halted, it’s paused” and downplayed the significance of the amount frozen.

FILE – Cook Islands Prime Minister, and outgoing Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Mark Brown, speaks at the opening of the annual Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Nuku’alofa, Tonga ...

New Zealand has what is known as a "free association" relationship with the Cook Islands, and helps the latter with defence and foreign affairs. In the last three years, Wellington provided NZ$194m in ...