More Top Stories
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16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
15 February 2025
Ruta Mave: People’s Republic of China red flag
10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
8 February 2025
Thomas Wynne: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?
8 February 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
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
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Articles by Melina Etches
Cook Islands student orators deliver kōrero with confidence
Saturday 8 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Pride in Reo Māori was evident from the students on stage in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani (Reo Māori Schools Speech Competition) which was held over two nights at the National Auditorium Domes earlier this week.
Community embraces ‘Blue Day’ in support of World Autism Awareness Day
Saturday 8 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The local community embraced “Blue Day” on Thursday by dressing up in the colour to demonstrate their support for Autism Cook Islands and its initiatives and programmes.
Remembering the suffering and death of Christ
Saturday 8 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Roman Catholics observed Good Friday yesterday by praying the Stations of the Cross, silencing their church bells, and leaving their altars bare as the Church mourns the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Churches to celebrate resurrection of Jesus with special events
Thursday 6 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Local churches are organising special events to mark Easter weekend.
Reo Māori thriving in the Pa Enua
Thursday 6 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Education, National
Te Reo Māori is well and thriving in the Pa Enua as demonstrated by the fluent and passionate senior student speakers who dominated the awards in the Tārērē Kōrero Māori ā te au 'Api'i Tuarua ō te Kūki 'Airani (Reo Māori Schools Speech Competition) on Tuesday evening.
Hundreds mourn Reverend Oirua Rasmussen
Wednesday 5 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Hundreds gathered to mourn and pay their last respects to the Reverend Oirua Peter Rasmussen (5 August 1962 - 29 March 2023) the Nikao CICC (Cook Islands Christian Church) Orometua who passed away last week.
18 students in Tārērē Kōrero Māori competition
Wednesday 5 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Young students proudly delivered their Tārērē Kōrero Māori (Reo Māori Speech competition) presentations in their respective native home island languages to an appreciative audience at the National Auditorium Dome on Monday evening.
Gearing up for Autism Blue Day
Wednesday 5 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Show your support for Autism Cook Islands (ACI) and celebrate Blue Day tomorrow Thursday 6 April by wearing something blue and making a donation.
Junior tennis team prepares for East Pacific Regional Championships in Samoa
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Sports, Tennis
Fourteen junior tennis players will be competing in the East Pacific Regional Championships (EPRC) in Apia, Samoa from April 17-22.
Tui Mauke o Araura raise $8000 for Bicentennial celebrations
Tuesday 4 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The Tui Mauke o Araura families of Aitutaki held a successful Ambrose Gold Day fundraiser last week raising over $8000 for the upcoming Commemoration of the Gospel Bicentennial celebrations.
Whale artwork complete, Vaka Paikea prepares for blessing and naming ceremony
Monday 3 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Art, Features
The whale artwork on the starboard hull of Vaka Paikea is now complete and artist Tuaine “Katu” Teiti has started working on the port hull.
The secret to sporting success: ‘Work hard, run and eat well’
Saturday 1 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Rugby Union, Sports
Cook Islander Saphire Abraham who plays in the Hurricanes Poua, a New Zealand women’s professional rugby union team based in Wellington, is visiting Rarotonga conducting rugby skill sessions, with her partner Barbra Auva’a, New Zealand’s U72 power lifting open champion who transitioned to rugby about three years ago. The women have been sharing their training skills and technique with local talent.
The journey to becoming Cook Islands’ first dental surgeon
Saturday 1 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Go Local, Weekend
A visit to the dentist or dental therapist doesn’t have to be something to dread.
Vaipae celebrates Christian legacy
Saturday 1 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National, Outer Islands
Under the glow of the rising sun on Thursday morning, the village of Vaipae was bustling and humming with activity preparing for their commemoration day of ‘Te Arikianga o te Evangelia – the Arrival of the Gospel’ 200 years ago on March 30, 1823.
Tupapa Health Facility to undergo $641k upgrade
Saturday 1 April 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
The Tupapa Health Facility (Outpatients) will be refurbished and upgraded to include additional consultation rooms and repositioning the layout to better support Covid-19 screening and primary care services.
Netball campaign
Friday 31 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Netball, Sports
Netball Cook Islands has started their campaign for the Pacific Games and upcoming events with skills and games play trials yesterday.
‘Embracing the amazing’ for Autism
Thursday 30 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, Local, National
For Autism Cook Islands (ACI) family networking is all about families coming together for fellowship in a fun and safe environment.
Aitutaki Gospel commemorations continue
Thursday 30 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Te Arikianga o te Evangelia, the Arrival of the Gospel to the village of Vaipae, Aitutaki will be commemorated today with a special plaque unveiling to mark the date the Gospel was received on March 30, 1823.
Parliament to sit for more than 40 days
Thursday 30 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National, Politics
Over 40 days - a massive improvement on the number of Parliament sittings, have been marked down in the ‘Draft Sitting Programme’ calendar which has been set by the Business Committee.
Apii Te Uki Ou claims Kau Swimming Competition title
Wednesday 29 March 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Sports, Swimming
Over 200 students participated in the Cook Islands Aquatics Swimming Federation Kau competition held last week at Vaiana’s beach in Nikao.
