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

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.

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.

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.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand is reconsidering all development funding to the aid-dependent island nation of Kiribati, following a diplomatic snub from the island nation's leader, government officials said Monday.