The Foreign Minister says New Zealand is officially resetting its relationship with the Cook Islands.  

Tensions have continued to escalate between our Governments as the Cooks inked in a new partnership with China.  

In a speech yesterday, Winston Peters has reiterated his concerns New Zealand was in the dark about this agreement, and is yet to see key details. 

Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Andrew Dickens it’s clear Peters is well past fed up at this stage.  

Walls says it’s no small feat to completely snub New Zealand in a sense, and sign such a major agreement with China without giving us a heads up. 

LISTEN ABOVE 

The Foreign Minister says New Zealand is officially resetting its relationship with the Cook Islands. &nbsp;
Tensions have continued to escalate between our Governments as the Cooks inked in a new partnership with China. &nbsp;
In a speech yesterday, Winston Peters has reiterated his concerns New Zealand was in the dark about this agreement, and is yet to see key details.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Andrew Dickens it’s clear Peters is well past fed up at this stage. &nbsp;
Walls says it’s no small feat to completely snub New Zealand in a sense, and sign such a major agreement with China without giving us a heads up.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge

Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB Political Editor on the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/30f64c18-6cb5-491d-bb23-b28901724d7b/transcript

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September.

Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September. 
Get the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 15 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/78ace574-9620-4e77-8296-b4c5012ac629/transcript

So, the past week has seen immigration policies come to the force.

New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity. 

Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement.
  
But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out these policies miss the real immigration pressure.

New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually.  

Largely for lower-paid roles on our farms in our kitchens and even in our beauty salons.
 
The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders. 

This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages.  

They come with problems that no-one is addressing.

Not for the first time politicians can't see the wood for the trees and not for the first time they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues.

So, the past week has seen immigration policies come to the force.
New Zealand First is signalling a tougher immigration stance, longer waits for residency and citizenship, a referendum to cap new residency approvals at 20,000 a year, and a 30-year population plan tying migrant intake to infrastructure capacity.&nbsp;
Labour is also tightening its settings, extending residency qualification to four years and promising a Government Policy Statement. &nbsp;&nbsp; But as economists like Bernard Hickey point out these policies miss the real immigration pressure.
New Zealand issues more than 230,000 temporary work visas annually. &nbsp;
Largely for lower-paid roles on our farms in our kitchens and even in our beauty salons. &nbsp; The temporary workers aren't here forever. But when they go, they're replaced but other temporary visa holders.&nbsp;
This quarter of a million of temporary visa holders is still driving population growth, straining infrastructure, and suppressing wages. &nbsp;
They come with problems that no-one is addressing.
Not for the first time politicians can't see the wood for the trees and not for the first time they then release policies that are primarily designed to get votes but not to address the issues.

Andrew Dickens: Politicians are missing the real immigration problem

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bd11023e-8d6f-4252-bc81-b4c5012aae72/transcript

A Russian drone has hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other top European security officials had been present.

No one died in the attack, and all passengers were safely evacuated.

Johnson had been passing along the same line on a different train, returning from a conference in Kyiv.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's plenty of speculation behind the motives of the strike, with Ukraine claiming Johnson's train was the intended target.

LISTEN ABOVE

A Russian drone has hit a train near the Ukraine-Poland border, moments after former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and other top European security officials had been present.
No one died in the attack, and all passengers were safely evacuated.
Johnson had been passing along the same line on a different train, returning from a conference in Kyiv.
UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's plenty of speculation behind the motives of the strike, with Ukraine claiming Johnson's train was the intended target.
LISTEN ABOVE

Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on Russian drone striking train behind Boris Johnson and other dignitaries near Ukraine border

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/ebdcd00a-c4cc-4990-b8fd-b4c40164b979/transcript

Jason Walls: Newstalk ZB Political Editor on the relationship between New Zealand and the Cook Islands

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