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 Melina Etches
A centenarian with a deep faith
Saturday 30 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
Emily Brell-Dean-William-Dyer, a remarkable, vibrant, and extraordinary 103-year-old woman, has unwavering faith in God. She is a living testament to the power of spirituality and devotion, and to life well lived.
Cook Islanders celebrate culture, heritage and identity in Aotearoa
Saturday 30 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Art, Features
Cook Islands culture thundered throughout the Trust Arena, Waitakere in Auckland, New Zealand, this week as Te Maeva Nui ō Aotearoa New Zealand Charitable Trust proudly presented the third biennial Te Maeva Nui NZ performing arts festival of music and dance, arts and crafts of the Cook Islands.
Tou Travel Ariki re-elected president of Te Are Ariki
Friday 29 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National
Te Kaumaiti Nui, Tou Travel Ariki, has been re-elected as president of Te Are Ariki (House of Ariki) for another four-year term. This will be his last term in the role.
Donated bicycles boost traffic on Penrhyn’s white coral roads
Friday 29 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Traffic has increased on the white coral roads in the northern group island of Penrhyn in both the communities of Tetautua and Omoka.
Youngsters impress in Mini Tennis Tournament
Thursday 28 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Sports, Tennis
Tennis Cook Islands (TCI) hosted its Term 3 ANZ-AOPP-JTI Mini Tennis Tournament for three of the primary schools on Rarotonga on Friday, September 15.
Apii Avarua retains athletics title
Thursday 28 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Athletics, Sports
Over 650 athletes competed in the two-day CITC (Cook Islands Trading Corporation) Prince of Wales Primary Schools Athletics Championship, which ended yesterday at the National Stadium in Nikao.
Proud Oe Vaka junior girls receive world medals
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Paddling, Sports
The Cook Islands Under 16 junior girls oe vaka world champions are proud and excited to finally be presented with their bronze medals, after their epic race at the 2023 International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Paddling Distance Championships (10 - 19th August) in Apia, Samoa.
Te Are Ariki - moving forward
Wednesday 27 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National
Te Are Ariki (House of Ariki) three-day annual general meeting which also includes the attendance of the Ariki vaatuatua or kauono (speakers), is underway at Parliament House.
Apii Avarua eyes 13th consecutive Prince of Wales Athletics title
Tuesday 26 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Athletics, Sports
Primary schools on Rarotonga have been training athletes for the past few weeks in preparation for the biggest sports competition on the island, the annual 2023 CITC Prince of Wales Primary School Championships, which begins today, Tuesday, at 3pm.
Autism students to display masterpieces at inaugural art auction
Tuesday 26 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Following 10 weeks of fun and hard work, the cool and creative artists of Takavekave Tatou, the Autism Cook Islands art programme, will be displaying their masterpieces this Thursday evening.
A legacy of learning and service
Monday 25 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
The New Zealand Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA) has been operating in the Cook Islands for 60 years, providing support in education, health and well-being, and the environment. Cook Islands News senior journalist Melina Etches, who attended the organisation’s 60th anniversary last week, writes about its objectives and achievements.
Ireland’s first Ambassador to Cook Islands: ‘It's a real privilege’
Monday 25 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Jane Connolly, the Ambassador of Ireland to the Cook Islands, was honoured to be the first Irish diplomat to serve here.
Empowering young women
Sunday 24 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
The Girl Guides Association Cook Islands proudly represented the country at the 38th World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) conference in Nicosia, Cyprus, along with 152 countries.
Exploring challenges and opportunities for women in business
Sunday 24 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Business, Features, National, Weekend
The first ever Ambassador of Ireland to the Cook Islands, Jane Connolly, has met with the Cook Islands Business and Professional Women (BPW) this week to discuss advancing women in business and professional arena.
People with disabilities collaborate with responders on fire safety
Sunday 24 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Through a request from the Cook Islands National Disability Council (CINDC), Mirren Allan and Nick Linton, both Fire Emergency New Zealand senior advisors, are conducting programmes across the island on readiness, preparedness, and response to fires.
CI Residents eye Series title
Saturday 23 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Rugby league, Sports
Cook Islands Residents will be hoping to beat defending champions Tabusoro Fiji Residents by more than 12 points to claim their first ever Vodafone-Tri Nations 15s Series.
New children’s book celebrates Māori culture and language
Saturday 23 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Back before alarm clocks startled people awake to greet the morning, noisy roosters performed that daily duty. Today, the persistent crowing of the roosters still continues in the early mornings.
VSA celebrates 60 years of service with original volunteer
Friday 22 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Sue Ngatokorua, one of the first Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tūao Tāwāhi (VSA) volunteers to be sent to the Cook Islands in 1977, attended the organisation’s 60th anniversary celebration in Avarua yesterday.
Cook Islands cyclists dig deep at Oceania Pacific Cup event
Thursday 21 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Cycling, Sports
Cook Islands cycling duo Jason Moorfield and Roland Neururer competed in the second Oceania Cycling Federation Pacific Cup held in Tahiti over the weekend, both posting impressive results.
Empowering Pa Enua leaders
Thursday 21 September 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Outer Islands
The biennial Pa Enua Government Forum, held under the theme of “Akamatutu i te turanga o te Pa Enua – Empowering the Pa Enua”, brought together 30 key government officials in Rarotonga last week.
