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
Literacy Week: Schools celebrate reading and writing
Tuesday 6 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Apii Avarua students settled comfortably under the shade of a large mango tree yesterday for a “buddy class reading” session to start off the Literacy Week.
Blessed to receive: Church donates to those who help the vulnerable
Monday 5 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Non-governmental organisations who service the vulnerable in the community felt “blessed” to have received donations from the Apostolic Church.
Father’s Day christening for Isaia
Monday 5 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Yesterday’s Father’s Day was extra special for the William and Heather families with the christening of baby Isaia Geoffrey Heather, who was born just over five weeks ago on July 27 in New Zealand.
Ethical research: New safeguards to protect us
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
The Cook Islands has established a new Research Ethics Committee to ensure the highest possible ethical standards are met, protecting those participating in research in the nation.
Aitutaki Liftoff aims to become South Pacific’s biggest fitness festival
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
The Aitutaki Liftoff – the island’s biggest fitness festival – kicked off its all-inclusive event that promotes health and wellness for everyone, last weekend.
Early morning training for tennis champs
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Sports, Tennis
Four junior Cook Islands tennis players – ranked in the top four of the East Pacific – will depart next week to compete in the Pacific Oceania Junior Championships in Lautoka, Fiji.
House Blue’s winners and grinners
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The saying winners are grinners was evident at St Joseph’s primary school yesterday with the House Blue overall sports champions students full of smiles proudly holding their coveted trophy.
$25k Onu gift helps our young ‘dolphins’ swim
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Swimming enthusiasts will soon be decked out in professional looking dry fit apparel thanks to the kind sponsorship of Onu Sportwear.
US$16m batteries store Sun’s energy, reduce oil need
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Three newly commissioned battery systems on Rarotonga which cost US$16 million (approx. NZ$24m) will reduce the island’s dependence on oil-fuelled power generation and continue the shift to solar power.
Former BCI teller acquitted in missing $18k trial
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Court, National
A former bank teller from the Atiu branch of the Bank of the Cook Islands has been acquitted of charges that she had taken $18,000 from a community housing fund.
Papa Ezekiela celebrates 90th at Are Pa Metua
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Ninety-year-old Rongo Ezekiela was thrown a surprise birthday party last week at the Are Pa Metua, hosted by the centre and his family.
Please keep power on for UV filters to work
Thursday 1 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in
The venues hosting Rarotonga’s 18 community water stations need to ensure that the electricity to the ultraviolet (UV) filters is not turned off as they need power to safely disinfect water.
‘Owning the narrative’ of our treasured history in a tech world
Thursday 1 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Local, National
Cook Islanders are being encouraged to contribute their knowledge and ‘own the narrative’ of their taonga stored in digital records.
Kayal Iro debuts as Cronulla Shark #555
Tuesday 30 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Rugby league, Sports
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks’ Matt Ikuvalu’s injury during training presented the opportunity for Cook Islands international Kayal Iro to become Shark #555 when he took to the field over the weekend to take on the Bulldogs at PointsBet Stadium in New South Wales, Australia.
Vaka Training Successful
Tuesday 30 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Vaka Marumaru Atua has completed a successful sustainable transport run returning from Aitutaki on Sunday with four lasers for Sailing Cook Islands which will be used for the Cook Islands Games in October.
A quarter of MPs are women, ‘half should be aim’
Tuesday 30 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Politics
Six of our elected legislators are women – a quarter of the 24 seat Parliament – but the aim should be to have women make up half of the MPs, the National Council of Women (CINCW) says.
Western bank gabions stabilise Takuvaine stream
Monday 29 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, National
Contractors are continuing the widening and stabilisation of the Takuvaine stream bank where it approaches the new Empire bridge in Avarua.
Celebrating Cooks’ culture in Perth, Australia
Monday 29 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Cook Islands dancers in Perth, Australia dazzled the audience with their cultural expertise on stage recently in the 2022 Te Mire Ura competition.
‘Healthy lunch only’ Wednesdays for Penrhyn students
Saturday 27 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
The northern island Penrhyn schools of Omoka and Tetautua are tackling the health of their children in earnest with its ‘healthy lunch only’ policy on Wednesdays.
Rangi Henry’s beautiful blessed songs of Gospel
Saturday 27 August 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
Music brings joy and unites people together and is a powerful medium the world over, says musician and composer Rangi Henry.