More Top Stories
‘Nothing to worry about’: Prime Minister Brown on China agreement
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
3 August 2024
Articles by Melina Etches
Podcaster launches digital card to help people ‘save money’
Monday 30 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Business, National
Businesswoman and podcaster, Chantal Napa launched Chantal’s Digital Card earlier this month with the aim to help people save money on Rarotonga when shopping, dining and enjoying activities.
Unlocking dyslexia
Saturday 28 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Health, National, Weekend
Early childhood school days for some children have been and are a real struggle. It is particularly harder for those with dyslexia – a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words.
Redefining ‘sexagenarian’
Saturday 28 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
Aging is not an option, it is inevitable. However, what aging looks and feels like is definitely a choice. Close friends Elizabeth (Etu) Chase and Deb Te Kani who are aged in their early sixties have transformed their body shapes and sizes and mastered the art of incorporating health and fitness into their daily lives, redefining their expectations of a sexagenarian.
Understanding locally protected areas
Thursday 26 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Committed to achieving 25 per cent of Cook Islands land as a protected area under National Sustainable Development Agenda 2020+, the first ever ‘Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures’ (OECM) workshop came to a close on Wednesday.
It’s a long drive to the top
Wednesday 25 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Golf, Sports
Ranked number one in the world for women’s long drive, Cook Islander Phillis Meti MNZM, a New Zealand golfer, visited Rarotonga last week with her mother Phillis Sr.
Blackrock the first back to school
Wednesday 25 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Blackrock, the country’s first and oldest early childhood education centre was the first to kick off the 2023 academic calendar for schools in the Cook Islands opening on Monday.
The young and the bowled
Tuesday 24 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Bowling, Sports
The highlight of the Cook Islands Bowls 2022 season prizegiving awards was the battle of the “young and bold” for the title of the singles championships.
Vaka project reaches halfway mark
Tuesday 24 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The art of building a canoe from tree logs is rarely seen, however, in a bid to revive the traditional practice, last September, Te Mana O Te Vaka boat building and sailing project was launched. Now the head of the project plans a traditional canoeing race and vaka fishing competition to bring his vision to life.
Double gold for Darts
Saturday 21 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Darts Cook Islands have made a golden history, winning gold medals in the men’s and women’s competition, at the third South Pacific Darts Championships held in Tonga this week.
Educator extraordinaire
Saturday 21 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Go Local
After 19 years of being an educator at Tereora College, including the past eight years as its principal, Tania Morgan stepped down last year to take on a new role as the director of the Cook Islands Tertiary Training Institute.
A leader, mentor and respected man with many talents: leaving a lasting legacy
Saturday 21 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Uirangi Mataiapo Rei Jack Enoka (OBE) was a respectable leader – a traditional leader, a former politician and Leader of the House, and a man with many skills including a grower, a businessman, a Boys Brigade brass band master and a boxing representative.
Darts CI going for gold
Friday 20 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Darts Cook Islands are set for podium finish in the third South Pacific Darts Championships being held in Tonga.
Puaikura firefighters join Sky Tower Stair Challenge for charity
Friday 20 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade members are doing it again, competing in the 2023 Firefighter Sky Tower Challenge in Auckland in support of Leukaemia and Blood Cancer New Zealand.
$6700 raised for Aitutaki house fire victims
Friday 20 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The Aitutaki 88FM radiothon has raised $6700 for the Ben Tati family who lost their house in a fire in November last year.
Cook Islands represented in Pasifika Village opening in NZ
Thursday 19 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islanders were among 1500 people who attended the momentous opening ceremony of the K’aute Pasifika Village in Aotearoa New Zealand earlier this week.
Promoting traditional navigation
Wednesday 18 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National, Tourism
Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation will continue its Iriiri Kapua No Runga i te Tuku Kaveinga Maori a te Ui Tupuna (workshop series and discussions on how our ancestors navigated), early next month.
Matavera road work starts for hot mix seal
Wednesday 18 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) have started work at the Matavara Packing Shed main road area yesterday to facilitate prospective upgrades of utility service lines.
Darts set for international debut
Tuesday 17 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Darts Cook Islands is making history with a team of 31 in Tonga to compete in their first ever South Pacific Darts Championships from January 16 - 21.
Engaging youth in church
Tuesday 17 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
The declining numbers of Catholics in the Cook Islands is one of the several issues facing the church which needs urgent attention.
Taking children ‘out of their comfort zone’ to fish
Monday 16 January 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Around 100 kids accompanied by their patient parents and adult family members congregated at the beach in Tupapa on Saturday for the annual Cook Islands Game Fishing Club (CIGFC) Tamariki (kids) Fishing Competition.
