Is New Zealand losing ground to China in Pacific relations?

Tensions have emerged in recent weeks between New Zealand and several Pacific Island nations.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has been accused of ‘not properly consulting’ New Zealand on the country’s upcoming China deal – which is expected to be penned in Beijing this week.

Meanwhile, NZ aid to Kiribati is under review – and Samoa has sought help from China in the aftermath of the Manawanui sinking last year.

This all comes as the Trump administration has frozen aid to developing nations -- which some experts fear could push them closer towards China.

Today on The Front Page, University of Auckland retired international relations professor Stephen Hoadley is with us to discuss China’s interest in the Pacific, the impact of that frozen aid, and what it means for New Zealand’s relationship with some of our closest neighbours.

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Host: Chelsea Daniels
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Producer: Ethan Sills

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