This…
The dark fleet hiding in our own backyard: How the Cook Islands sold its flag to Moscow and Tehran
A special Herald investigation has found the Cook Islands flag has flown on over 100 oil tankers accused of illicitly trading Russian and Iranian oil, sparking alarm from foreign governments and helping send relations between Wellington and Rarotonga into a deep freeze. Matt Nippert reports how a privatised shipping register that delivers only modest fees to Rarotonga’s government became a flag of choice for shadow fleets.
…and this…
Fractured relationship between NZ-Cook Islands dealt another blow
Confidential documents leaked to 1News reveal the Cook Islands government was looking at new plans to seize tainted cryptocurrency worldwide.
Experts say it amounted to state-sponsored hacking, and the move has set alarm bells ringing with the New Zealand Government.
…alongside their Chinese deal behind our backs shows that NZ has totally lost control of Rogue Cook Islands.
Winston cuts millions in aid…
New Zealand suspends nearly $30m in aid to Cook Islands
…as the ongoing friction between the Cook Islands and the Realm of NZ heats up while the Cooks continue to cosy up with China.
My question is, did Winston fuck it up in 2023?
US to open embassies in the Cook Islands, Niue
In 2023, we allowed the bloody Americans to open embassies in the Cook Island and Nuie without talking to us first and the ‘free association’ lesson taken by the Cook Islands of the Americans pushing past us that they could also allow China to do the same!
Winston should have immediately stopped that.
We should never have allowed America to do that to us, because it set a precedence that China could as well, which is exactly what happened!
If this was truly about Pacific Island independence, we should stand aside and allow the Cooks to be independent, but the fear here is that this is genuine Chinese encroachment into our territory.
The recent 3 ship flotilla by China through the Tasman sea had more firepower than the entire Australian and NZ Navy’s combined.
If we want to strengthen our ties with the Cooks, why not have our national carrier, Air NZ subsidize flights to the Cooks for NZ holidaymakers to boost the tourism and cultural ties?
If the Cooks want to go independent and believe China will protect their interests, knock yourself out, but if they are a Realm of NZ, they have legal obligations to us that they are breaching.
My fear is that Winston manufactures this into a crisis that he takes to the Election with to stir up a dark patriotism.
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