Winston Peters to visit Cook Islands

by · RNZ
Winston Peters and Mark Brown met in Auckland last week.Photo: Supplied / Minister of Foreign Affairs

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters will visit the Cook Islands on Wednesday for talks with Prime Minister Mark Brown.

A statement from Peters' office said the visit follows a private meeting between him and Brown in Auckland earlier this month.

The two leaders released a joint statement after their "informal" meeting, saying they had discussed "fundamental challenges facing the New Zealand-Cook Islands relationship over the past 18 months".

"Political dialogue between the two countries will continue in the coming weeks in order to determine whether these challenges can be resolved in the present circumstances," the statement said.

Peters' last visit to the Cook Islands was in February 2024.

His return to Rarotonga suggests a softening of the diplomatic back-and-forth regarding the relationship between Cook Islands and Aotearoa.

He leaves for the Cook Islands on tomorrow and returns to New Zealand on Thursday.

Related Stories

'Don't oversell it': Cook Islands opposition leader on Mark Brown's NZ meetingTina Browne says the government must now outline a clear pathway to resolve the pause in New Zealand funding following an "informal" meeting between Mark Brown and Winston Peters.26 Mar 2026Winston Peters meets Cook Island PM 'informally' in Auckland, but no deal on key issuesFour days ago, Peters' office said they had no plans to meet Cook Islands PM Mark Brown while he was in New Zealand.20 Mar 2026Cook Islands PM Mark Brown in New Zealand but no talks with LuxonMark Brown said the nature of the relationship with New Zealand was due for a rethink.Kaya Selby, 19 Mar 2026New Zealand and Cook Islands diplomatic tension ‘not beyond repair’, Helen Clark saysThe current diplomatic tension between the Cook Islands and Aotearoa is "concerning" but "not beyond repair", former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says.16 Mar 2026Cook Islands PM Mark Brown set for first major New Zealand visit since diplomatic rowPrime Minister Mark Brown will travel to New Zealand for a series of engagements - his first major visit since the diplomatic fallout between the two nations over the Cook Islands-China deals.10 Mar 2026Cook Islands PM says economy remains strong despite NZ funding pauseHowever, Mark Brown says New Zealand is "having issues" with the state of its own economy as Kiwis "are running away" to Australia.Caleb Fotheringham, Tiana Haxton, 14 Nov 2025Cook Islands remains 'committed' to New Zealand despite disagreements, trust issuesThe Cook Islands government says it remains committed to free association with New Zealand despite recent disagreements and trust issues between the two governments.Caleb Fotheringham, Morning Report, 10 Nov 2025Luxon should step in over worsening Cook Islands spat, expert saysA geopolitical analyst says the prime minister should fix the diplomatic stand-off, as the foreign minister is making things worse.Teuila Fuatai, 10 Nov 2025New Zealand 'reluctantly' extends pause in Cook Islands funding"The Cook Islands government breached New Zealand's trust through a series of actions that are well known."09 Nov 2025Cook Islands deal has ‘nothing to do with military or security agenda’, says Chinese ambassadorThe Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the Cook Islands and China has 'nothing to do with military or security agenda', the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand says.Losirene Lacanivalu, Cook Islands News, 11 Aug 2025Mark Brown rejects talk of 'strategic shift' in Cook Islands-New Zealand relationshipThe Cook Islands has no intention of leaving its special relationship with New Zealand, Prime Minister Mark Brown says.Caleb Fotheringham, 05 Aug 2025New Zealand halts Cook Islands funding in stoush over ChinaThe news - amid a stoush over the region's relationship with China - only emerged as Prime Minister Christopher Luxon prepares to meet Xi Jinping.Jo Moir, Giles Dexter, RNZ Online, Midday Report, 19 Jun 2025The 'right to choose' key to the Cook Islands-NZ relationship - PetersNew Zealand's foreign minister says Cook Islanders are free to choose whether their country continues in free association with New Zealand.Teuila Fuatai, 04 Aug 2025Cook Islands PM: ‘If we can’t get help from NZ, we will go somewhere else’The Cook Islands prime minister has defended the nation's new strategic partnership with China.Teitimoana Tairi, Cook Islands News, 23 Jul 2025