More Top Stories
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Articles by Al Williams
Ambitious environment project aims to improve land, air and sea in Cook Islands
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
An ambitious multi-million dollar six-year environment project aimed at reducing and mitigating environmental impacts of key development sectors in the Cook Islands will be launched on Rarotonga.
Rape accused vacates pleas and seeks review of charges
Monday 1 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man with a long criminal history, charged with multiple offences including rape and indecent assault, has vacated earlier pleas and asked for disclosure on the charges he is facing.
Court news
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A woman facing a theft as a servant charge has been excused from appearing in court.
Former cop enters guilty plea to money laundering in $118,000 deception case
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A former police officer has pleaded guilty to money laundering in a case involving $118,000 of New Zealand Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funds.
Fleeing motorcyclist disqualified
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
A 30-year-old man who fled the scene of a crash early on Sunday and was subsequently tracked down and charged with drink driving, has lost his driver licence for 12 months.
Drink-driving tourist with no helmet fled police on scooter
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A drink-driving tourist was not wearing a motorcycle helmet when he eluded police warning lights and took a U-turn before heading back to the resort where he had been initially told to stop
Heading to homework deadline as new school term nears
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Education, National
It hasn’t been all fun and games for holidaying school students who head back to studies next week.
Hiker in hospital after lengthy rescue effort
Thursday 27 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National
A local woman who slipped and fell while trekking through Rarotonga’s “steep and gnarly mountain terrain” on ANZAC Day was rescued in a mission stretching from late afternoon into the night.
Court briefs
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Drink driver A charge of careless driving was dropped against Salote Seneirewa but she was convicted of excess breath alcohol.
Spike in influenza like illnesses no concern to authorities
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Health, National
A spike in influenza like illnesses does not appear to have authorities concerned as a date for the rollout of vaccines has been confirmed by Te Marae Ora.
Raro’s ‘abysmal’ driving continues with more excess breath alcohol
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Crime, National
A 30-year-old man fled the scene of a crash early on Sunday and was subsequently tracked down and charged with drink driving.
New eatery proves to be a hit
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Go Local
It’s a combined effort for a husband and wife team who have transformed a ramshackle facility into a retail and eatery outlet in the heart of Rarotonga.
Labour shortage a major concern: ADB
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Labour, or the desperate shortage of it, here and across the Pacific, is a major concern for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in delivering its latest regional economic update. Al Williams reports.
Court briefs
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Guilty plea A man has admitted his guilt in assaulting a female. Johnny Faamelea Cyrus Hoeflich appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday where the court heard he assaulted a female at Black Rock on March 4. His lawyer asked for the matter to be adjourned for three weeks so probation could prepare a report. […]
Name suppression remains for woman accused of arson
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A 39-year-old woman has made a second appearance in Court charged with arson in connection to a house fire in Arorangi on March 12.
$79k footpath near completion
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National
A $79,000 construction project of a footpath between Raro Fried Chicken and the Empire Bridge is due for completion this week.
Diversify travel offerings and invest in infrastructure: ANZ
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands along with other Pacific nations require not only hard but soft infrastructure investment such as telecommunications according to an economic outlook report into sustainable tourism.
Man to pay $17k, court orders
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man charged with careless driving will pay $17,000 in reparation following an appearance in court.
12 months probation for drink driving
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man caught drink driving while disqualified has been ordered to serve 12 months of probation and disqualified from driving for a year.
Amiri case adjourned
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man facing an excess breath alcohol charge was due to be sentenced on other matters when his case was adjourned in the Criminal Court.