New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Wednesday his country must “reset” its relationship with the Cook Islands government after its Pacific neighbour signed agreements with China without consultation.

The tiny Pacific nation’s partnership agreement with China was signed amid a furious diplomatic row with New Zealand, its former colonial ruler.

The Cook Islands' head of government on Tuesday defended a new partnership pact with China and urged his country not to depend on handouts from "big brother" New Zealand. Prime Minister Mark Brown said the accord signed with Beijing offered the small Pacific nation opportunities in trade,