Trade, business, and regional security were among the many points of discussion at bi-lateral talks in Wellington on Monday between New Zealand's foreign affairs minister Winston Peters, and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.
This follows China's attempts to sign security agreements with several Pacific states, and the security pact agreed with Solomon Islands in 2022.
The New Zealand Defence Policy Strategy Statement last year stated China wanted "to grow its political, economic, and security influence in the Pacific at the expense of New Zealand and Australia."
Canterbury University professor of political science and China expert Anne-Marie Brady spoke to Corin Dann.