Te-Hani Brown is still being paid the salary of a MP – and even pocketing the 45 per cent pay rise – even though she is not allowed to go to work.

Australia hopes to set up its High Commission in Rarotonga by the end of this year.

The lowest-paid government workers are those who will benefit from this month’s salary increase, the Prime Minister says.

The multimillion dollar project to supply disinfected water to Rarotonga homes has been stalled by a High Court injunction. 

Australia’s foreign affairs minister has arrived in the Cook Islands to negotiate the opening of a High Commission here.

435 ‘grassroots’ criminal justice, transport and agriculture workers to get salary increase over next three years. Salaries for the lowest-paid government workers will be raised to $15,000.

The Financial Intelligence Unit, Crown Law Office, and the Cook Islands Police Service helped US investigation into the multi-million dollar fraud case, reports Rashneel Kumar and Melina Etches.

An increase in drug trafficking activities could lead to a rise in money laundering cases in Cook Islands and the Pacific region.

Chlorination is the most appropriate option to disinfect Rarotonga’s drinking water and protect the elderly and vulnerable from lethal illness, says the ministry boss responsible for the drinking water projects.