Why is New Zealand expressing alarm over the Cook Islands' agreement with China?

New Zealand is expressing alarm because it was not consulted before the signing of the agreement between the Cook Islands and China, despite having constitutional ties to the self-governing Pacific nation. New Zealand provides ongoing budgetary and defence support to the Cook Islands, making this exclusion particularly concerning. The situation has escalated to the point where opposition forces in the Cook Islands have scheduled a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Brown's government for the following week. This reflects the serious domestic and regional concerns about how the deal was negotiated and finalized without involving New Zealand as a key regional partner.