Cook Islands PM re-elected despite row over China ties with New Zealand
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown’s securing of another term, despite a dispute with New Zealand over his government’s deals with China, suggests voters are more focused on the cost of living than geopolitical concerns, analysts have said. Brown’s Cook Islands Party is on track to win a fifth consecutive term in government. According to preliminary results from last week’s general election,…
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown secured re-election despite a dispute with New Zealand over his government's deals with China, indicating that voters were more concerned about the cost of living than geopolitical issues, according to analysts. Brown's Cook Islands Party is set to win a fifth consecutive term, obtaining 18 seats in the 24-member parliament, up from 12 in previous elections.
The result is significant for the self-governing Polynesian nation, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, imported fuel, and development funding. The primary concerns during the election were the cost of living and New Zealand's role in the Cook Islands' defense and external affairs. The Cook Islands is in free association with New Zealand, meaning New Zealand is responsible for its defense and foreign affairs, and its citizens are automatically New Zealand citizens.
The election disputes included the signing of infrastructure, tourism, and seabed mineral research deals without consulting New Zealand, which led to Western allies questioning the implications of China's growing influence in the Pacific. Despite the concerns, Brown's efforts to ease tensions with New Zealand and maintain close ties with the country may have limited the political damage from the China deal.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
