Peters announces $16.5 million towards climate change initiatives in the Cook Islands
Thursday, 8 February 2024
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has promised to funnel $16.5 million to climate change initiatives in the Cook Islands
Peters - also the deputy prime minister - was in the small island nation on Thursday as part of his four-day trip to Polynesia, and his second visit to the Pacific since being sworn in.
He met with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, where he has promised $16.5 million to mutually-agreed renewable energy projects, cycle shelter upgrades, battery replacements and water security.
“New Zealand is supporting the Cook Islands with $16.5 million in funding to respond more effectively to the increasing impacts of climate change,” Peters said.
“This funding will go to projects, agreed with the Cook Islands, on issues such as renewable energy, cycle shelter upgrades, battery replacements and water security.”
He also also reaffirmed the special relationship New Zealand and the Cook Islands share.
“We are committed to continuing to respond together to the complex and varied challenges facing the region, as well as finding areas and opportunities for bilateral cooperation.”
The Cook Islands is increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, as rising sea waters pose an existential threat, as does coastal erosion, ocean acidification to tropical cyclones and drought.
Earlier on Thursday he took part in a ground breaking ceremony, opening a new farmers market.
Peters is also attending a Waitangi Day celebration at the New Zealand official resident on Thursday night before flying to Samoa, where he will spend the next two days.
On Wednesday he was in Tonga, where Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu asked for support to build a new court house.
Tonga is also facing huge debt repayments over the next five years, which the Lowy Institute said would see it spending more servicing debts this year than it will on health. The bulk of that, 80%, would be going to China.
Vaipulu said he would not be looking to New Zealand for help to pay the loan. “It is ours to pay,” he said.
New Zealand gave $4 million in Covid-19 aid to the Tongan government in 2020.