1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,160 Speaker 1: Now the spat between New Zealand and the Cooks is 2 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:04,520 Speaker 1: officially over. Winston Peter's in the Prime Minister of the 3 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Cooks have signed a new Defense and Security Declaration which 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: is more comprehensive than the last one. It makes it 5 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 1: clear that both sides have to give each other heads 6 00:00:13,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: up on security issues, which is obviously what the spat 7 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: was about in the first place. Also means our funding 8 00:00:17,920 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: to the Cooks will start flowing again. Mark Brown is 9 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:24,159 Speaker 1: the Prime Minister of the Cox Hi Markan Heather, what 10 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 1: made you decide you needed to patch things up again. 11 00:00:28,040 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: Well, this is something that we've been working towards since 12 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 2: the tensions between our two countries emerged, and we're really 13 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,519 Speaker 2: pleased that we've been able to sign off on a 14 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: defense and security declaration between our two countries and it 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: sets the foundation really for us now to build on 16 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 2: our relationship going forward. So for us here in the 17 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 2: cock Islands, we're really happy with this. 18 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: So this has been going on since twenty twenty four, 19 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: which is a fairly long time to not be to 20 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: not chat to each other. What made you decide to 21 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: pick up the phone. 22 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 2: We've always been open to discussions with the New Zealand government. 23 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:09,560 Speaker 2: We've been engaging at officials level for the last year. 24 00:01:10,200 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: There have been some very complex issues around defense and 25 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: security that we needed to really ground out. But I'm 26 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 2: very pleased that over the last few weeks we've been 27 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:24,200 Speaker 2: able to reach agreement on a declaration which sets out 28 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 2: clearly the responsibilities of both countries, each country and how 29 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: we engage with each other in particular areas of defense 30 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 2: and security. Moving forward. 31 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 1: Now, this whole spat was about the fact that you 32 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: signed the partnership agreement with Beijing and didn't tell New Zealand. 33 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,880 Speaker 1: Under the new agreement that you've signed, would you be 34 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 1: required to tell New Zealand of that agreement with Beijing. 35 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, without wanting to relitigate the past, I think what 36 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 2: this agreement does is clearly articulate how we as two 37 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 2: countries will talk and discuss on matters of importance around 38 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 2: defense and security and ensuring that there are no surprises. 39 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: Do you still want to see a separate Cooks passport? 40 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 2: Oh, that's off the table at the moment, Heather. 41 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: Okay, Now listen. Obviously, big stuff going on in the world, 42 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 1: and I'm aware that we're remote, but if we're remote 43 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:23,760 Speaker 1: you even more remote. So what is your main worry 44 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: about the Iran crisis. 45 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: Yes, for us, it's security of fuel supply. At we're 46 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 2: at the end of the supply chain. We've been fortunate 47 00:02:35,600 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: that our more recent shipments have just arrived into country, 48 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 2: so we have natural gas supplies that have been replenished. 49 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:47,360 Speaker 2: We have up to sixty days of diesel now for 50 00:02:47,440 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 2: our power generation and about forty days for jet fuel 51 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: for aviation. But it is the outgoing months beyond that 52 00:02:55,320 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: that we are now looking to secure delivery of both 53 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:04,160 Speaker 2: diesel and jet fuel to ensure supply is maintained. 54 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: If you were to run out, if it got to 55 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: that stage, would it be incumbent on New Zealand to 56 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: help you. 57 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: Or well, before we'd run out, we would also be 58 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: asking a New Zealand to help. The thing that we 59 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: have going for us is the relatively modest volumes that 60 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 2: we would require, which would be a drop in a 61 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: bucket compared to the amounts that New Zealand would require. 62 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: Now, is the truth that Winston gave you a warrior's jersey? 63 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 2: Yes, I have to admit that I was gifted a 64 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: warrior's jersey by the Honorable Minister. 65 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: Why are you a Warriors fan? 66 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: I'm a die hard Warriors fan. 67 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: Yes I am, okay, And it sounded like it was personalized. 68 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: What does that mean? Does it say Brown on the back? 69 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: He's certainly put my name on the back of the jersey, 70 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,560 Speaker 2: something that I'll wear with great pride when I come 71 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: to a cultural event like a Warrior's home game in 72 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 2: the near future. 73 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:06,640 Speaker 1: Mark, thank you very much, look after yourself. Let's Mark 74 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: Brown the Cook Islands Prime Minister. 75 00:04:08,680 --> 00:04:11,840 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 76 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 77 00:04:15,000 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.