There's claims the Cook Islands were left in the dark over New Zealand pausing funding. 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters says a $20-million-dollar pot of development aid won't resume until trust is restored between our countries, who operate under a special relationship. 

Its Prime Minister signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with China, without giving New Zealand any insight on the deal. 

Cook Islands journalist Rashneel Kumar says the Government was caught off guard - and he explained that it has tried to ease fears the agreement with China may have caused. 

LISTEN ABOVE

• NZ pauses Cook Islands funding over China deal stoush citing ‘gap in understanding’