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 Joanne Holden
Rarotonga’s annual Christmas at the Park on tonight
Thursday 14 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Entertainment, Features, Local, National
School pupils will be bolstering volunteer numbers at Rarotonga’s annual Christmas at the Park this year as the island community comes together to support the more than $7000 event.
Aitutaki's newest resort expanding
Monday 11 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Features, National, Tourism, Weekend
Construction continues on a new Aitutaki resort which opened more than a month early to accommodate the Pacific Islands Forum.
Turtle trio release draws crowd
Monday 11 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, Local, National
Hundreds of people waded through the knee-high water at the entrance of Avaavarua Passage in Rarotonga to accompany a trio of rescue turtles on the first leg of their release into the wild.
Shell-abration time: Rescued turtles ready to dive back into the wild
Saturday 9 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, National
Three green sea turtles which were surrendered to a Rarotonga eco-centre after failing to thrive while being kept as pets, have had their shells engraved in preparation for their release into the wild.
Cruise ship makes detour to Palmerston with medical supplies
Friday 8 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
With the next cargo ship visit to Palmerston two months away, a passing cruise ship will be dropping off medical supplies to the island on its way to Tonga.
A Cook Islander representing global university Pasifika distance learners
Thursday 7 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Features
An Australia-based Cook Islander elected as a student representative for Pasifika distance learners at Massey University is working on forming a “Kuki Club” for students and alumni around the world.
Cook Islands youth leaders urged to tap into $16,000 grants
Wednesday 6 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National
Grants of US$10,000 (NZ$16,239) are up for grabs for Cook Islands alumni of a Pacific youth leadership development programme, to design and implement projects which will help address issues in the region.
Fishermen, environment group seek solutions to dwindling fish stocks
Saturday 2 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National
Dwindling fish numbers and the potential impact of deep sea mining on fish are among the issues in Cook Islands waters that fishermen and an environmental group want to see addressed at an upcoming meeting in Rarotonga between the Pacific’s fisheries ministries.
Age no barrier for 65-year-old Vaka Eiva competitor
Friday 1 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Features, Paddling, Sports, Weekend
A 65-year-old Hawaii-based woman who has returned to Rarotonga to compete in the Vaka Eiva for the first time in 13 years says she will be paddling “until I’m dead”.
Drink driver fell asleep, crashed into power pole
Friday 1 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Court, National
An 18-year-old motorist was nearly three times the legal alcohol limit when he fell asleep behind the wheel and collided with a power pole in Rarotonga.
Drink driver over five times legal alcohol limit fined $800, disqualified
Wednesday 29 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Court, National
A 34-year-old woman who collided with a fellow motorcyclist while trying to overtake a car was more than five times the legal alcohol limit.
Global climate fund needs to be ‘easier, more accessible’
Saturday 25 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands residents dedicated to combating climate change have urged representatives of the world’s largest climate fund to make its application process ‘easier and more accessible’.
Junior paddlers ready to splash
Friday 24 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Paddling, Sports
Junior racing has been cut from this year’s Vaka Eiva, but that will not keep the Cook Islands and New Zealand’s young paddlers out of the water during the event.
Harvie Allison: The man behind the lens of Vaka Eiva
Friday 24 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Features, Paddling, Sports, Weekend
The Australia-based official photographer for the international Vaka Eiva competition calls the Cook Islands his “second home”.
Trader Jacks ‘party central’ for Vaka Eiva
Friday 24 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Entertainment, Features, Food
Trader Jacks is “looking forward” to hosting Vaka Eiva competitors again as the Cook Islands’ premier outrigger canoe international regatta returns to Avarua Wharf for the first time in four years. With three-and-a-half hours added to opening time, a freshly-painted car park boosting ambulance access, and plans to cater for 500 people on closing night – the Rarotonga restaurant and bar is anticipating “a very busy week”, director Chris Douglas said.
Pacific Island leaders criticised for silence on Israel-Hamas conflict
Saturday 11 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in National, Pacific Islands, Pacific Islands Forum
Protesters who implored Pacific Islands leaders to condemn Israel’s ongoing attack on Palestine are ‘hugely disappointed’ the issue was not raised during a five-day meeting between the region’s leaders in the Cook Islands.
More than $59 million for climate-resilient infrastructure
Friday 10 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Environment, National
Plans to pump more than US$35 million (NZ$59.4m) into upgrading infrastructure within the Cook Islands community to help tackle climate change are in development.
Tourism’s People's Choice winners ‘honoured and humbled’
Thursday 9 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National
A Rarotonga fitness instructor and an Aitutaki lagoon cruise operator have bested more than 100 members of the Cook Islands tourism community to be crowned People's Choice.
Café operators brew-ing up for Pacific Islands Forum
Saturday 4 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Features, Go Local, National, Pacific Islands Forum
Café operators surrounding the venue for a Pacific Islands Forum gathering at the National Auditorium are anticipating patron numbers will reach those of peak tourism season during the event.
Family Welfare Association, Government sign MOU to strengthen emergency response
Friday 3 November 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Local, National
A Cook Islands organisation supporting pregnant women, families, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence has partnered with the Government to keep providing its services through a national emergency.
