Opposition parties in New Zealand are demanding transparency over what they're calling 'secret' government negotiations on critical minerals with unnamed foreign partners.The talks, which have not been publicly disclosed, raise concerns about whether New Zealand's mineral resources - crucial to everything from electric vehicles to defence technology - are being offered up without adequate public scrutiny.Critical minerals have become a flashpoint in the broader competition between the United States and China for influence in the Pacific. Both powers are actively courting Pacific nations for access to resources needed for the green energy transition and advanced manufacturing."New Zealanders have a right to know who we're talking to about our resources and what's on the table," said one opposition MP. "These deals have implications for decades to come - they shouldn't be negotiated in secret."The government has declined to comment on the specifics of any negotiations, citing commercial sensitivity.New Zealand is not typically considered a major mineral producer, but it does have deposits of rare earths and other materials that have attracted interest as global supply chains face disruption.The secrecy around the talks has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, with some questioning whether the government is pursuing deals that might not survive public scrutiny."If these negotiations are in the national interest, why the secrecy?" asked one political analyst. "Transparency builds public confidence. Secrecy breeds suspicion."