<h1>New Zealand freezes $18.2 million funding to Cook Islands over unauthorized China partnership agreements</h1> New Zealand suspended 18.2 million New Zealand dollars in funding to the Cook Islands due to concerns over agreements the Pacific nation signed with China in February. The funding freeze affects health, education, and tourism sectors and emerged during New Zealand's Prime Minister's visit to China. New Zealand officials cited lack of consultation about the China deals, which violated their 60-year free association compact requiring consultation on foreign agreements. The Cook Islands, with 15,000 residents, signed comprehensive strategic partnership agreements with China covering infrastructure and education funding. New Zealand stated funding won't resume until the Cook Islands takes steps to repair the relationship and restore trust between the constitutionally-linked nations.