New Zealand’s government is reviewing its aid to Kiribati after the Pacific island nation’s leader snubbed a planned meeting with New Zealand’s foreign minister

While New Zealand has been a long-standing development partner, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has not managed a meeting with Kiribati President Taneti Maamau since returning to office in 2023.

New Zealand is reevaluating its development funding to Kiribati following a diplomatic incident where Kiribati President Taneti Maamau canceled a meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

The unusual move to review all finance to Kiribati was prompted by the abrupt cancelation of a planned meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday last week between Kiribati President Taneti Maamau and New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Winston Peters, Peters’ office said late on Monday.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s aid for Kiribati is being reviewed after its President and Foreign Minister cancelled a meeting with him last week.

Kiribati is one of the world's most aid-dependent countries, but relations with Western nations have grown tense since it aligned with China in 2019

Tensions between Western nations and Kiribati continue to strain after President Taneti Maamau refused to meet with senior ministers.