New Zealand has pledged to prioritise the wellbeing of Kiribati's community as it reviews development funding following a presidential snubbing.
The funding review puts tens of millions of dollars in jeopardy after New Zealand's development co-operation with the atoll nation totalling $NZ102 million between 2021 and 2024, including investments in health, education and climate projects.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters was due to visit Kiribati on January 21 as part of a diplomatic blitz of the Pacific but was snubbed for a meeting with President Taneti Maamau a week out from the trip.
"This was especially disappointing because the visit was to be the first in over five years by a New Zealand minister to Kiribati and was the result of a months-long effort to travel there," a spokesperson for the minister said.
"New Zealand has been a long-standing partner to Kiribati.
"The lack of political-level contact makes it very difficult for us to agree (on) joint priorities for our development program and to ensure that it is well targeted and delivers good value for money."
The terms of reference are being developed and no decisions on projects already underway will be made before the review is finalised, but funding cuts haven't been ruled out.
"The outcomes of that review will be announced in due course. Other aspects of the bilateral relationship may also be impacted," the spokesperson said.
"In the meantime, New Zealand stands ready, as we always have, to engage with Kiribati at a high-level."
The United States has also struggled with its diplomatic ties as the establishment of its embassy in Tarawa is stonewalled.
US diplomats were unable to gain entry into Kiribati in late 2024, AAP understands.
Kiribati banned diplomatic visits in mid-2024 until after the presidential election in the following months but small delegations were able to apply for exemptions.
The embargo put a dent in Peters' plan to visit all Pacific Islands Nations countries that year.
New Zealand had been trying for months after the presidential election was finalised later in 2024 to tee up a visit before the dates in January were scheduled.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, who doubles as the deputy prime minister, went ahead with his visit in mid-January despite also failing to secure a meeting with the president.
He met with Vice President Teuea Toatu.
There are concerns about increasing Chinese influence in Kiribati as Beijing ramps up its charm offensive in the Pacific more broadly.
Maamau has frequently attended Chinese embassy events despite Western diplomats failing to secure meetings with him.
Most recently, he gave a speech on January 24 for Chinese New Year, where he "expressed sincere appreciation for the unwavering support and assistance that China has provided for Kiribati", according to the embassy.
While there are concerns about deepening ties with China under Maamau, academics have also branded diplomatic struggles to the president as wanting to avoid scrutiny.
Kiribati has stonewalled visas for foreign officials and judges in recent years.
