US, NZ team up with Cook Islands on a port project in Penrhyn

By Pacific Island Times News Staff

The United States and New Zealand have pledged $60 million to fund a major port upgrade on Penrhyn in the Cook Islands, the Department of State announced today.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the project in Palau, where island leaders gather for a weeklong Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Landau leads the U.S. interagency delegation to the Aug. 31 opening ceremony of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum, in support of Building Economies: Life, Action, Unity- “BELAU.

The U.S. Department of State said Washington will contribute US$50 million (approximately $NZ84 million) and New Zealand will contribute $NZ17.5 million (approximately US$10 million) to fund the project.

“This is a positive and hugely significant initiative that demonstrates the strength of New Zealand’s partnerships with both the Cook Islands and the United States,” Peters said.

“We are very pleased to be able to partner with the United States and the Cook Islands governments to deliver this development priority for the Cook Islands, drawing on New Zealand’s experience in infrastructure delivery across the Pacific.”

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“This project underscores the United States’ strong commitment to our partners in the Pacific and builds on the Critical Minerals Framework the United States and the Cook Islands signed earlier this year,” Landau said.

He said the partnership highlights the U.S.'s historic ties to Penrhyn atoll, where U.S. personnel constructed Penrhyn’s port and airstrip over 80 years ago. 

Penrhyn is also known as Tongareva and its port is located in Omoka village.

"Through transformational infrastructure initiatives such as this, we are making the United States and our partners safer, stronger and more prosperous,” Landau said.

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Officials said upgraded port facilities will deliver safety and security benefits, while expanding transport links and economic opportunities for the northern Cook Islands.

"This wharf upgrade complements our new domestic shipping investments and our own efforts in improving transport connections for our Pa Enua," Brown said. "We thank the United States and New Zealand for partnering with us to deliver on a priority our people have themselves identified."

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