Episode description

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.

Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Sound Engineer/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Ethan Sills

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.