{"id":586581,"date":"2026-09-01T05:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/586581\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T05:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T05:20:18","slug":"nz-and-us-to-build-major-port-on-former-military-base-in-cook-islands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/586581\/","title":{"rendered":"NZ and US to build major port on former military base in Cook Islands"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States has thrown down the gauntlet in the Pacific revealing it\u2019s to develop a deep sea port on a former military base in the Cook Islands \u2013 with New Zealand playing a core role and contributing to the cost.<\/p>\n

Alongside Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and New Zealand\u2019s Foreign Minister, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has announced the US$60 million (NZ$101 million) port development on the atoll of Penrhyn \u2013 once home to a World War II military base.<\/p>\n

The move, announced at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, comes as geoplitical tensions rise in the Pacific, with the US and China both exerting their influence.<\/p>\n

In an exclusive interview with 1News, Peters called the partnership to build the major port a \u201clandmark decision\u201d, describing it as \u201ca seminal moment that we are back in the game looking after our part of the world\u201d. <\/p>\n

He said it\u2019s the first time in years that New Zealand has partnered up with the US in such a significant project.<\/p>\n

\"US<\/p>\n

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau (left) shakes hands with Foreign Minister Winston Peters, with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown after signing the Penrhyn deal. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

Washington is putting in US$50 million and New Zealand, which will manage the building of the port, US$10 million.<\/p>\n

Penrhyn is of strategic interest to the United States because of its location \u2013 while it already has military bases on Guam and the Marshall Islands and interests in territory American Samoa, the northern Cook Islands atoll opens access to a different and valuable part of the Pacific.<\/p>\n

It is also an international port of entry and its deep lagoon will allow in large vessels.<\/p>\n

\"Penrhyn<\/p>\n

Penrhyn is in the northern Cook Islands. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

Peters said once the port is built \u201cthere will be so many reasons to use it\u201d, including for fishing, transportation and countering transnational crime and the war on drugs.<\/p>\n

Penrhyn\u2019s new port will be for the Cook Islands to manage.<\/p>\n

Defence role for NZ<\/p>\n

\"US<\/p>\n

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. (Source: Getty)<\/p>\n

But New Zealand is responsible for the defence of the Cook Islands and, according to a recently signed Defence and Security Declaration, NZ\u2019s military has access to the Cooks\u2019 exclusive economic zone to \u201cfulfil defence mandates and uphold shared security commitments\u201d. The port investment could potentially provide military access.<\/p>\n

Deputy Secretary Landau says the project underscores the US\u2019 strong commitment to its Pacific partners.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough transformational infrastructure initiatives such as this we are making the United States and our partners safer, stronger and more prosperous,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said the port will be a \u201clifeline\u201d for Penrhyn, \u201callowing for safer landings, better access to services and strong connections between our Pa Enua and the world\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said it complements the Cook Islands\u2019 own priorities to improve transportation and shipping investments.<\/p>\n

Beijing’s view<\/p>\n

It is significant the announcement takes place at the Pacific Islands Forum, which has been overshadowed with allegations of foreign interference from China. This new partnership is sure to anger Beijing which had its own designs on the Cook Islands.<\/p>\n

Last year the Cook Islands signed a number of secret deals with China<\/a>, infuriating New Zealand which was not consulted as it is constitutionally required to be on issues of security. But the fractured relationship was healed in April with the shoring up of defence and security, essentially sidelining China<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last week at a realm country meeting with NZ Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Cook Islands PM Brown reinforced that, saying: \u201cWhen the call goes out, the Cook Islands will always respond as we\u2019ve done since World War I when it comes to those sorts of security issues.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he doesn\u2019t name China, Peters told 1News the port development is a \u201clesson I hope for others to take a hard look at what\u2019s going on here as opposed to chequebook diplomacy\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s going on here is for the advancement of the Cook Islands people. There is a big difference between serious investment in the local interests and chequebook diplomacy for international purposes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The deal was signed by NZ, Cook Islands and the US at the Pacific Island Forum in Palau. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

He said there are those who imagine a benign strategic environment but \u201cwe are not living in heaven here we have to face reality\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is we have to always be on alert, ever on alert, hopefully never ever having to use your defensive capabilities but that is the purpose of defence so that you never have to use it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Rich in resources<\/p>\n

Deep sea mining also plays a major role in the US wanting to invest in Penrhyn.<\/p>\n

Deputy Secretary Landau said it \u201cbuilds on the Critical Minerals Framework the United States and the Cook Islands agreed to earlier this year\u201d.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s big business involved and battlelines have already been laid down. That business is polymetallic nodules found at the bottom of the ocean, rich in cobalt, nickel, titanium and other critical minerals used for power grids, weapons systems, smartphones and electric batteries.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s estimated the Cook Islands has 6.7 billion tonnes of these resources in its 2,000,000 sq km exclusive economic zone and, while there\u2019s currently no commercial mining, three companies have been granted exploration licences.<\/p>\n

The Cook Islands people are divided over deep sea mining, with many concerned about potential serious environmental impacts while others are excited about potential economic benefits.<\/p>\n

The United States and China have both made no secret they want in on the action \u2013given the scramble for resources and metals tied to economic stability and national security.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Cook Islands and New Zealand repaired relations after falling out over an unapproved deal with China. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n

Both countries have signed agreements for deep sea mining cooperation with the Cook Islands \u2013 China in February last year in a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and a few months later the US pledging to advance scientific research and the development of seabed minerals resources. <\/p>\n

Penrhyn is well suited to support this and today\u2019s deal catapults the US ahead of the competition in a move that will upset Beijing as it finds itself edged out.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, Jared Novelly – US Ambassador to New Zealand, Samoa, the Cook Islands and Niue – visited Rarotonga. He told media that seabed exploration in the Cook Islands was at the top of his priority list. <\/p>\n

His visit coincided with the return of NOAA (US government agency the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) ship Okeanos Explorer, which had completed a deep sea and mapping expedition.<\/p>\n

At a welcome ceremony at Rarotonga\u2019s Avatiu Wharf, Prime Minister Brown – who has described the precious metals as \u201cgolden apples\u201d \u2013 was clear the economic benefits for the country were worth pursuing.<\/p>\n

\u201cShips are made for the sea and in some ways those sentiments also apply to a people in the nation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe can choose to stay safe and not venture out but that is not us, we come from a line of voyagers and navigators.”<\/p>\n

Novelly said the NOAA expedition had made one thing clear: \u201cWhen we combine the Cook Islands\u2019 proud tradition of navigation with modern American scientific tools, we can go farther and deeper together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cook Islanders have, until now, been unaware of a major strategic port being planned for their country or what this means on a domestic, economic and even geopolitical landscape. They are about to find out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The United States has thrown down the gauntlet in the Pacific revealing it\u2019s to develop a deep sea…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":586582,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5901,2300,1403,42,43,64,6430,40,38,41,39],"class_list":["post-586581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-1news-recommends","tag-asia","tag-defence","tag-headlines","tag-news","tag-north-america","tag-pacific-islands","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=586581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/586582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=586581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=586581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=586581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}