New Zealand and the United States announced on September 1 a joint funding package to upgrade the World War II-era port on Penrhyn atoll in the Cook Islands. The US will provide $50 million USD and New Zealand NZ$17.5 million for the project, which aims to improve ship landing safety, service access, and support northern Cook Islands' transport and economic links [1, 2, 3].
The project will be led by New Zealand in partnership with the Cook Islands and the US. The port and adjoining airstrip were originally built over 80 years ago by US personnel to support military logistics during World War II [1, 2, 3].
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the infrastructure efforts make the US and its partners "safer, stronger, and more prosperous," adding that "Chinese measures in the region are a forcing function for the U.S. to be more deliberate in their engagement" [1, 4].
The upgrade builds on a critical minerals framework agreement signed earlier in 2026 between the Cook Islands and the US. Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said the port works "reflect economic resilience and will help develop emerging industries like seabed minerals and fisheries" [1, 2, 3].
This investment comes as the US, Australia, and New Zealand seek to counter China’s expanding diplomatic and economic footprint in the Pacific. The Cook Islands signed a comprehensive partnership with China in February 2025 focused on infrastructure, maritime issues, and seabed minerals cooperation. New Zealand temporarily paused NZ$18.2 million in development funding after being left out of consultations on the China deal but later improved ties with a new defense and security declaration [1].
On September 2, Australia and the US announced a combined $580 million USD package at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau. The US committed $150 million USD, including $60 million for energy crisis response, while Australia pledged A$600 million (about $430 million USD) to combat drug smuggling through surveillance and police training [5, 4].
The Penrhyn port upgrade marks a targeted effort by New Zealand and the US to strengthen infrastructure and economic resilience in the northern Cook Islands and is part of wider Pacific partnerships announced at the forum [1, 2, 3].
