Andrew Dickens: NZ missed its chance with the Cook Islands

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Feb 23, 2025 · 2m · transcript

So, the weekend has been spent watching the Chinese Navy use the Tasman Sea as a firing range.

They’ve never done this so far south before and you have to wonder why.

Defence commentators call it a power projection.

Sure, but don’t project power round here. Don’t divert Air New Zealand and Qantas planes.

Coincidentally and ironically, it comes at the same time that the Cook Islands have signed a deal which includes wharf construction.

How naive and stupid is Mark Brown. New wharves are lovely until the Chinese Navy start using them as a staging point to invade the Pacific.

But it begs the…