Phil Goff: Former Foreign Affairs Minister on the meeting between Winston Peters and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Mar 31, 2026 · 3m · transcript

There are hopes thawing our frosty relationship with the Cook Islands shouldn't be too tough for the Foreign Minister.

Winston Peters is meeting Prime Minister Mark Brown on his home turf after an Auckland meeting last month.

Relations have been tense since the Cooks didn't consult with New Zealand on a partnership deal with China, despite our free association arrangement.

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge Peters should have the upper hand.

He says Brown has an election this November and it's really unpopular among Cook Islanders to think they'd lose their New Zealand…