The Cook Islands, a group of 15 small islands in the Pacific Ocean, have been closely tied to New Zealand for decades.

The Cook Islands will mark 60 years of being in free association with New Zealand on 4 August. "Who [New Zealand sends], ...

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 ...

Freeze emerges as NZ's leader visits China. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a ...

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.

WELLINGTON--New Zealand has halted millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation made with China, officials from ...

Freeze emerges as NZ's leader visits China. News of the 18.2 million New Zealand dollar ($11 million) funding halt Thursday only emerged when a Cook Islands news outlet saw its brief mention in a ...

The money is part of NZ $200 million directed to the Cook Islands by New Zealand over the past three years as part of an almost 60-year-old free association compact.

The Cook Islands responded by saying it was "determined to address [the issue] as a matter of urgency", adding that it "highly values" New Zealand's development assistance over the years.

New Zealand's latest action was an “entirely avoidable consequence of Cook Islands’ strategic flirtations with China,” said Mihai Sora, analyst with the Australia-based thinktank Lowy Institute.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has suspended millions of dollars in funding to the Cook Islands over the “breadth and content” of agreements the smaller Pacific nation has made ...