Cook Islands Election Deadlocked as China Ties and Economy Take Center Stage

Cook Islands voters head to the polls in an election too close to call. PM Mark Brown defends a strategic partnership with China and cites 10% annual growth and debt halved. Opposition leader Teariki Heather campaigns on transparency and the New Zealand alliance, rooted since 1965. Brown survived a no-confidence vote over the China pact in February 2025; ties with Wellington reset in April 2026.