New Zealand’s government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China.New Zealand paused the payments and would not resume them until the Cook Islands took “concrete steps” to restore trust, a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said in a statement.The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people, has a “free association” relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defense.The Cook Islands caught New Zealand off guard in February when it signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement with China covering deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues.A spokesperson for the foreign minister pointed to the “lack of consultation” surrounding the “agreements signed by the Cook Islands and China” as a reason for the aid pause.“Trust and meaningful engagement are fundamental to free association,” he said.Asked about the dispute on Thursday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said “China-Cook Islands cooperation does not target any third party” and “should not be interfered with.”“New Zealand and the Cook Islands are both important cooperative partners of China,” ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said at a regular press briefing.The pause in funding comes as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday.New Zealand provided US$116 million to the Cook Islands over the past three years, according to government figures.