Foreign Minister Winston Peters needs to restate New Zealand's relationship with the Cook Islands during talks with his Chinese counterpart, former prime minister Helen Clark says. Peters arrives in Beijing this afternoon for a 48-hour visit that will include talks with China Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The Cook Islands has announced five-year agreement with China for the exploration of seabed minerals. New Zealand has urged the self-governing nation to keep to its "free association" relationship with Wellington.

A strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation's government showed.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Wednesday his country must “reset” its relationship with the Cook Islands government after its Pacific neighbour signed agreements with China without consultation.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters will touch down in Beijing on Tuesday for a three-day visit as relations between the two countries are strained after Chinese Navy vessels conducted live firing exercises in the Tasman Sea.

The public quarrel between New Zealand and Cook Islands — which share a passport, a military and constitutional ties — was a victory for Beijing’s efforts to woo Pacific leaders and a blow ...

A comprehensive partnership deal between the Cook Islands and China has been signed in Harbin over the weekend.

The tiny Pacific nation’s partnership agreement with China was signed amid a furious diplomatic row with New Zealand, its former colonial ruler.

The Cook Islands’ pact with China has been furiously denounced by New Zealand as breaching the neo-colonial constitutional arrangements with its Pacific neighbour.

Cook Islands deal has implications for Pacific security, but particularly for New Zealand, the United States, and Australia.