The Foreign Minister has hit back at comments by a Kiribati government minister that the island nation's leader failed to receive him because of pre-planned commitments.

Victoria University's Jon Fraenkel says "there are difficulties in the relationship between Wellington and Kiribati" but "Kiribati does have alternatives" both in Beijing and elsewhere.

Kiribati has defended its last-minute decision to call off a meeting between President Taneti Maamau, Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau and Foreign Minister Winston Peters, a snub that prompted New Zealand to put its aid for Kiribati under review.

Tensions have risen since Kiribati aligned itself with China in 2019 and signed a series of bilateral deals with Beijing Primary and secondary schools must ensure physical education teachers are ...

Kiribati, a Pacific Ocean neighbor of Hawaii with a vast Exclusive Economic Zone of 3.6 million square kms (1.4 million square miles) has developed close ties to Beijing in recent years including ...

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

A New Zealand-born Kiribati MP has come to her president's defence in the diplomatic row between Wellington and Tarawa, stating the "media manufactured drama", in which Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced a review of NZ aid to the Micronesian nation, is "disrespectful to Kiribati's sovereignty".

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

The New Zealand government said it is reviewing its development aid programme with the Pacific nation of Kiribati after the country's president cancelled a meeting with New Zealand’s foreign minister earlier in January.

New Zealand to review aid to Kiribati after the Pacific Island nation snubs an official's visit - New Zealand's government is reviewing its aid to Kiribati after the Pacific island nation's leader snu

Tensions have risen since Kiribati aligned itself with China in 2019 and signed a series of bilateral deals with Beijing. The bond between Kiribati — population 120,000 — and its near neighbor ...