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
This is unsatisfactory: Chief Justice Keane
Wednesday 25 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
The case against a woman of obtaining by false pretense which stretches back nearly five years, has been described as unsatisfactory by her lawyer.
Guilty plea in $118,000 deception case
Wednesday 25 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A woman has entered a guilty plea to obtaining by deception in a $118,000 case involving the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development.
New sentencing date to be set for alleged rapist
Tuesday 24 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A Mangaia man charged with multiple offences including rape, cruelty to a child and assault on a child has entered guilty pleas in the High Court.
PM silent on legal costs in $5.4m Air NZ case
Monday 23 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown will not reveal the total cost in a tax case involving the Revenue Management Division and Air New Zealand.
High-profile case drags on in ‘cluttered’ callover
Saturday 21 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau’s name, alongside former civil servants, husband and wife Nga Puna and Diane Charlie-Puna, have been called in court again.
‘He’s a good bloke’: PM Brown commends incoming New Zealand PM
Saturday 21 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Politics
Prime Minister Mark Brown has described incoming New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins as a “good bloke”.
Three Justices of the Peace indicate conflict in prison warden assault case
Friday 20 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A prison warden facing multiple assault charges will have to postpone his travel to New Zealand following conflict of interest signals from two Justices of the Peace.
Government remains mum on Air New Zealand ‘legal’ bill
Thursday 19 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Legal fees are understood to be in excess of $250,000 as government continues to sit on a report outlining where the Revenue Management Division went wrong in the tax matter involving Air New Zealand.
Beach handball proves a hit at games
Wednesday 18 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Beach handball has again taken centre stage at the 2023 Cook Islands Beach Games.
A tumultuous week in tax
Saturday 14 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Claims have come to light the Revenue Management Division is dysfunctional following revelations its top man is on sabbatical leave. It now looks like the government department is desperately short on resources.
Convicted drink drivers all register blood levels more than three times the legal limit
Saturday 14 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Three women, all involved in injury crashes, all caught drink driving with blood alcohol levels more than three times over the legal limit, have been fined and disqualified.
$5.4 million returned in overpaid tax
Saturday 14 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
The Revenue Management Division will be making a submission to Cabinet, outlining the costs incurred and to be borne by Cook Islands taxpayers, in the legal action taken by Air New Zealand over ‘overpaid tax’.
Financial Secretary claims ‘slow news day’ over sabbatical leave saga
Friday 13 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Financial Secretary Garth Henderson, in a bizarre turn of events, has turned to social media with a response to questions surrounding his top taxman’s “sabbatical leave”.
Questions surrounding top taxman’s ‘sabbatical leave’
Thursday 12 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
The head of the Cook Islands tax department has been given six months’ sabbatical leave by his boss, Financial Secretary Garth Henderson, in a decision that has reportedly irked top government officials.
Spending big to make the bucks
Saturday 7 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
The wheels of commerce keep turning for the Cook Islands tourism industry as the nation moves into what has been traditionally known as a quiet period over our summer months. Resorts are pouring millions of dollars into maintenance and redevelopment as they forecast continued growth in the coming year.
Resorts undergoing multimillion dollar redevelopment
Friday 6 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in National, Tourism
Edgewater Resort and Spa and its sister resort Club Raro are undergoing a multi-million dollar redevelopment.
String of burglaries: Police seeking ‘young, tall, skinny’ male suspect
Thursday 5 January 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Crime, National
Police seeking ‘young, tall, skinny’ male suspect.
High hopes for 2023
Saturday 31 December 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Local, National
Small business operators on Rarotonga have given 2022 a thumbs up following a challenging couple of years. They are positive going forward to 2023 despite ongoing uncertainty, Al Williams reports
Cops call for calm as New Year looms
Saturday 31 December 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National
Police are extending firm reminders to all liquor licenced premises and outlets to stick to the rules and ensure their respective responsibilities are maintained during New Year celebrations.
Drink-driving women warned it’s jail next
Saturday 31 December 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
Two women convicted of drink driving have been told they could face jail time if they appear before the courts again.
