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Economy

I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections

Prime Minister Mark Brown says both the Democrats and Republics have similar policies on the Indo-Pacific and he does not expect much change when the United States next president is confirmed. Losirene Lacanivalu reports.

2025 Te Maeva Nui Theme Launched

Te Maeva Nui team leaders are pleased with the “tumu tapura nui” (theme) for next year’s biggest cultural event, the 2025 special 60th anniversary celebration as an independent nation.

Environment

NES engages with remote communities on Environment Bill 2024

National Environment Service staff including the Director Halatoa Fua have recently returned from the Northern Group holding consultations on the Environment Bill 2024 and National Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan (NBSAP).

Health

Summer Covid warnings

Predictions of a new wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths are circulating in New Zealand.

National

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Local

Date calls in Pacific support

Features

Diwali celebrated in Rarotonga

Court

Bail conditions changed, man travels to Pa Enua

Court

Woman denies careless driving charge

Crime

Allged thief charged

A teenager has been caught and charged with attempted burglary and being unlawfully found following a burglary in Tupapa on Monday. The charges were confirmed by Cook Islands Police Service spokesperson Trevor Pitt who said the matter has been prepared for referral to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Committee (JCPC). Tupapa resident Talissa Koteka took to […]

Crime

Police attend to 3 road crashes

Cook Islands Police attended to three road crashes in the weekend.

Sports

Rugby Union

Tabusoro is back, aims for finals at 2024 Raro 7s

Rarotonga Fijian residents – Tabusoro has returned and will be pushing through to get to the finals at this year’s 35th Rarotonga Rugby 7s Tournament that kicks off on Friday.

Football

Round 13 football season kicks off today

The football excitement continues at the CIFA Complex today with the grassroots teams set to kick off Round 13, showcasing the talent and passion of young athletes.

Rugby Union

NZ referees look forward to fast-flow rugby 7s

Twelve teams will compete in the two-day Rarotonga 7s Competition that kicks off on Friday and New Zealand referees are hoping for a fast-flow free game that will be entertaining for the home crowd.

Regional

Tahiti sailors win 2024 Regatta in Raro

Sailors from Tahiti edged over Rarotonga, proving to be very competitive taking out first place in both the Lasers and the Optimist classes, winning the 2024 sailing challenge overall trophy.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

Letter: Left High and Dry- Rarotonga's Water Inequality

As discussions about water supply and tariffs in Rarotonga intensify, it’s essential to recognise the diverse experiences of all community members who will be impacted by upcoming decisions. While some debate the introduction of water charges and varying service levels, many others—including my household, neighbours, and even local businesses—face the daily challenge of having no access to the public water supply at all.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: We need collaborative water solutions

Ms. Tere Carr does not represent all landowners connected to the ten water intakes.

Editorials

Ruta Mave: Sold for a song

The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. It is greener where you water it. Water your own backyard and have the most attractive green grass that others will pay to travel to. Focus on what you are good at and get better at it. Do not focus on trying to be average on what you suck at. Ruta Mave writes.

Editorials

Michael Tavioni: Water tariff lacks commonsense

For today’s column I was writing about some other issue but two articles in last week’s Cook Islands News kept bothering me. Michael Tavioni writes.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: Don’t let facts get in the way of a good story

All seven species of migratory sea turtles are on the endangered list (Appendix 1) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Opinion

Smokies are back

Some of our readers have asked when the Smoke Signals column will be back in print. Today we kick off with a few recent Smokie submissions from readers. If you feel there are wrongs that need righting or something that’s escaped public attention and needs airing, send us a Smokie by email to editor@cookislandsnews.com, or Messenger via Facebook to Cook Islands News. C’mon, Smoke it!

Features

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Features

Reliving Cyclone Martin 27 years on

The scars of Cyclone Martin still linger in the hearts of many.

Church Talk

Church Talk: Overcoming Discouragement

Elijah is a very prominent prophet in the Old Testament and was used as an analogy for John the Baptizer’s ministry, the one who would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. Pastor Paul Kauri writes.

Features

Diwali celebrated in Rarotonga

More than 100 members of the Indian community in Rarotonga commemorated the Diwali festival yesterday, with the hope of spreading love and light, as well as forgiveness.

Art

Cooks represented in Creative Pacific Foundation event in Salt Lake City

Cook Islands was well represented at the recently held Creative Pacific Foundation’s second annual marketplace and Fashion Show held in Sandy, Utah, - a suburb of the Salt Lake City valley, United States.

Church Talk

Celebrating All Souls Day or Celebrating Turama Eve in Panama

Each year on November 1, on the eve of Turama/All Souls Day, the Catholic Panama Cemetery bursts with colourful flowers, candles and fairy lights.

Entertainment

Maine Kūki ʻĀirani Aotearoa Hit the Stage

Pacific

Health

Western Pacific to miss UN goal to cut early deaths from lifestyle diseases: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Western Pacific countries including the Cook Islands will likely miss out on the United Nations’ goal to reduce premature deaths from lifestyle-related diseases such as cancer and diabetes, as a result of alcohol and tobacco intake.

Kiribati

Kiribati increasingly in thegrip of ‘authoritarianism’

Kiribati is becoming a one-party state while the delivery of basic services is near collapse, according to the opposition leader in the last parliament, Tessie Lambourne.

Pacific Islands

Transformational changes needed for Pacific resilience: PM Brown

Cook Islands Prime Minister and former Forum Chair Mark Brown has called for transformational changes to achieve a resilient Pacific, urging Pacific leaders and partners to go beyond incremental solutions and embrace bold reforms to address key regional challenges outlined in the 2050 Strategy.