A new security and defence deal dominated official discussions in the Cook Islands on the second leg of Foreign Minister Winston Peters' Pacific Mission, but under the surface lie serious concerns about a former Kiwi cop who is now the police commissioner.
1News learned that two women, both working for different international governments, have raised allegations about inappropriate behaviour by Inspector Turepu James Keenan on different occasions.
One of them is an unnamed high-ranking New Zealand official.
The police commissioner was not available for comment, but his spokesperson said the matter had been in the hands of Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and had been dealt with.
"I have full confidence in the police commissioner, and he's doing a great job so far," Brown said.
However, multiple sources assure 1News that is not the case and there is great unease internationally in how the case has been handled.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was a matter for the Cook Islands Government and would not comment.
This is hardly surprising, given what is on the table at this high-level political visit — a trilateral security and defence arrangement between the two countries and Australia.
Brown said that Australia plays a great role in supporting these programmes.
"Linking this with New Zealand's traditional support would be something that it would be worth our three countries sitting down and having a discussion about it."
While it appears that the police commissioner has had a reprieve domestically, the issue is not going away.
Keenan's contract ends in the next two months, and whether it is renewed will be watched globally with interest.
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