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Education

Concerns on new Teacher Development Centre raised

The recent opening of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Teacher Development Centre, housed in an upstairs space of Tereora College’s main building, has sparked concerns from some members of the community questioning the decision to repurpose it. Talaia Mika reports.

Kata: Tereora building

Govt publishes China agreement, Opposition still demands answers

Cook Islands Government yesterday released the China agreement text following criticism over a lack of consultation, with New Zealand now reviewing its implications.

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Local

PM: Cook Islands passport no longer being pursued

Prime Minister Mark Brown has reaffirmed that the controversial Cook Islands passport proposal is no longer being pursued and has assured the public that the country’s relationship with New Zealand remains strong.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: “I know. But, for what purpose?”

With all the turmoil going on at the moment, perhaps it's a good time to reflect on what’s important to us as Cook Islanders. Read and ponder.

National

Local

Climate change top priority as UN strengthens Cook Islands partnership

National

Cook Islands secures $4 million ‘one off’ grant from China for future projects

Editorials

Ruta Mave: PM’s ‘cat and mouse’ games fuel public anger

Local

Over 1200 water meters installed on Rarotonga

Education

Students take on real-world challenges in Solve for Tomorrow competition

The first phase of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Innovation Challenge took place yesterday at Calvary Hall in Arorangi, bringing together young minds from across the Cook Islands to tackle real-world issues through design thinking.

Culture

Culinary celebration of Takurua - Umu Cooking

To celebrate Cook Islands’ 60th Anniversary of Self-Governance celebrations, Te Mato Manava Turoto/Cook Islands Tourism will present the culinary celebration of Takurua – Taste of the Season, this week.

Sports

Badminton

Badminton team wins silver medal at U15 Comp

Cook Islands Badminton U15 team returned home last week, after an intense match against New Caledonia ending with a silver medal win.

Football

Tupapa Maraerenga sets sights on OFC Champions League success

Tupapa Maraerenga FC is looking forward to representing the Cook Islands with pride in the 2025 OFC Men’s Champions League from March 30 to April 12 in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Rugby league

Defending champs Eels wary of Sea Eagles

The domestic rugby league 13s defending champions, the Avatiu Nikao Eels are not taking their round two match against the Ngatangiia Matavera Sea Eagles this afternoon lightly, despite a stunning start to the season last weekend.

Rugby Union

CIRU launches Pa Enua outreach with Healthy Living Programme

Cook Islands Rugby Union (CIRU) has launched its Pa Enua outreach, starting with the Healthy Living Programme – a fun and interactive way to teach the young ones the importance of a healthy lifestyle – with rugby at the heart of the action.

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

Letter: “I know. But, for what purpose?”

With all the turmoil going on at the moment, perhaps it's a good time to reflect on what’s important to us as Cook Islanders. Read and ponder.

Kata

Kata: MP Travel and Allowances

Letters to the Editor

Letter: 60 years of partnership in peril?

Dear Editor, Sixty years ago, with the endorsement of the people, Albert Henry signed an agreement with New Zealand that gave us the privilege of being NZ citizens and the responsibility to govern ourselves. We have never been left ‘high and dry’.

Editorials

Ruta Mave: PM’s ‘cat and mouse’ games fuel public anger

People complained of New Zealand being over patriarchal regarding the latest passport and China visit. Yet no one sees the same behaviour from our Prime Minister, writes Ruta Mave.

Kata

Kata: Tereora building

Features

Local

Peaceful protest to Parliament House, Cook Islanders voicing their concerns and advocating for change

Hundreds of Cook Islanders marched in protest to Parliament, demanding that government prioritise their New Zealand citizenship, address concerns about the China agreement and listen to the people’s wishes. Reporter Melina Etches looks back at the rally that was held in front of Parliament on Monday.

Entertainment

Cook Islands film ‘Stranded Pearl’ to reach global audience

A Cook Islands-made film will be featured at international film festivals in Japan and New Zealand, and has secured distribution deals for in-flight entertainment and streaming services.

Education

Tereora celebrates student excellence at endorsement assembly

Tereora College yesterday held its annual Endorsement Assembly, acknowledging the hard work and dedication of its students.

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Church Talk

Faith vs rights: Cook Islands debates declaring itself a Christian nation

Parliament is considering a constitutional amendment to declare the nation a Christian state, sparking debate about religious freedom, human rights and the separation of church and state, with various religious leaders and legal experts presenting their views to a special committee.

Education

Apii Avarua inducts 25 prefects

A total of 25 students, including 14 girls and 11 boys, were inducted as the 2025 prefects for Apii Avarua yesterday.

Church Talk

Church talk: Repentance is the cornerstone of Jesus’ message

Repentance holds a foundational place in the teaching of Jesus, marking the beginning of His public ministry. It was central to Jesus’ preaching because it addressed the fundamental human problem – sin, and prepared the people to receive the Kingdom of God, writes Bishop Reynaldo Bunyi Getalado msp of the Catholic Church.

Pacific

Papua New Guinea

Brutal killings of women in PNG spark outrage and calls for action

Warning: This story discusses graphic details of violence against women. Papua New Guinea is reeling from the separate killings of two women in acts of extreme violence last week, prompting renewed calls for urgent action to address the country's epidemic of gender-based violence.

Fiji

War on drugs: Fiji soldiers may be deployed to assist police, says Govt

Fiji’s government has announced that military personnel may soon join police in addressing the country’s drug crisis.

Kiribati

NZ’s ‘diplomatic tiff’ with Kiribati could push it closer to China: Expert

The New Zealand government’s decision to review its development aid in Kiribati has “all the hallmarks of a diplomatic tiff” and could “push away” the Micronesian island nation closer to China, a regional political commentator says.

New Zealand

Auckland Rainbow Parade: Destiny Church members disrupt march

Members of Brian Tamaki’s Destiny Church broke through police barricades and disrupted the rainbow parade in central Auckland on Saturday.

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Local

PM Brown confident in Pacific Islands Forum leadership despite political change in Tonga

The sudden resignation of Tonga’s former prime minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni had left a temporary gap in the leadership of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), but Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown remains confident that the situation will soon stabilise.