More Top Stories
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’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
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
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 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 Rod Dixon
Mangaia’s ‘ringed web of caves’ offers rich geological and historical treasures
Saturday 21 September 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, In Depth, Memory Lane, Weekend
A team of American cave explorers estimate there may be hundreds of caves yet to be explored on Mangaia in what one team member describes as ‘a ringed web of caves’ rich in geological and historical interest, including evidence of pre-historic exploration, writes Rod Dixon.
‘Then, now and forever British’: The mystery of Mangaia’s Victoria flag
Saturday 3 August 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane, Weekend
A Pilot Jack, with Queen Victoria’s head painted on the hoist, has become a symbol of office for successive chiefs of Mangaia. Following annexation by New Zealand the flag also became a symbol of the islanders’ resistance to colonial rule and their determination to retain sovereignty over their lands, writes Rod Dixon.
‘The tī was coffee’: Mangaia relives its café past
Tuesday 25 June 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane, Weekend
If you think sipping lattes is a sign of Ponsonby-style modernity – think again. Mangaia was doing it a century ago, writes Rod Dixon.
New book explores impact of Christianity on Mangaia
Saturday 8 June 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Church Talk, Features, Memory Lane
Mangaia accepted Christianity 200 years ago this month. A permanent peace – te au o te Evangeria - was the main dividend of the new religion and, according to a new book to be launched this weekend, peace justified the sacrifice of ancient customs and traditions to achieve, writes Rod Dixon.
Unveiling the Cook Islands
Monday 8 April 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
The little-known Cook Islands, with its unique social, economic, and political situation, inspired a Polish research team to write a book about the country.
‘The Aitutaki secret …’ How canoes evolved (and almost sank) for sailing
Saturday 9 March 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
The design of Cook Islands vaka has changed so much over the years that it’s difficult to speak of a ‘traditional canoe design’ as the Aitutaki canoe demonstrates, writes Rod Dixon.
Colourful tattoos, decorated canoes: Captain Bligh’s account of Aitutaki
Saturday 3 February 2024 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane, Weekend
Captain Bligh made two visits to Aitutaki and left unique accounts of their vaka and tattooing, writes Rod Dixon.
Karioi – the pleasure months
Saturday 2 December 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane
There was a time when Cook Islanders lived and worked in closer harmony with the seasons and enjoyed significantly more leisure time. Summer holidays lasted several months during which young people dedicated themselves to pleasure. By Rod Dixon.
The Scottish kumete from Atiu via Tahiti
Saturday 14 October 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Art, Features, Weekend
Standing in the middle of the Grand Gallery of the Edinburgh Museum is the largest kumete in the world. But how did it get there, asks Rod Dixon.
Wheel of Fortune?: The‘revolutionary’ invention that was born on Rarotonga
Saturday 9 September 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Art, Features, Memory Lane
For two decades Rarotonga was home to the inventor Henri Rey who partnered with local resident William McBirney to form the Rey Wheel Company of Detroit, Michigan. Story by Rod Dixon and Allan Tuara.
Christianity brought new hope, new dreams and new prosperity
Saturday 12 August 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, In Depth, Weekend
Historian and author Howard Henry has been fascinated by the birth of Christianity in the Cook Islands for many years. In a weekly series, Henry chronicles the arrival of Christianity to the Cook Islands and its role in building the nation. In his final article, he talks about the impact of Christianity in the Cook Islands.
‘Ueata – catching shadows: Early photography in the Cook Islands
Saturday 5 August 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Art, Features
Photography came relatively early to the Cook Islands thanks to some missionary amateurs. The Mangaians had a word for it – ‘ueata, “capturing shadows”, writes Rod Dixon.
Raro welcomes the troops, 1919
Saturday 6 May 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane, Weekend
Cook Islanders returned from the first world war as changed men, but they still knew how to party, as these century old photos show, writes Rod Dixon.
The Cook Islands that vanished?
Saturday 25 March 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
If historical sources are to be believed, at least three islands in the Cook Islands have vanished into thin air. One of these, Tuanaki, is said to have submerged with all its occupants, as recently as 1842. By Rod Dixon.
How Mangaians helped rescue Raro’s economy
Saturday 18 February 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, In Depth, Memory Lane
At the beginning of the twentieth century migrants rescued Rarotonga’s population and economy, then in apparently ‘terminal’ decline. Within a few decades these migrants had become established Rarotongan families, traditional landowners and custodians of the culture. Is a similar process currently underway?
Painting with scissors: exploring Tivaivai’s links to European modern art
Saturday 7 January 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Art, Features
A major art exhibition in Sydney explores the link between tivaivai and Henri Matisse, the great French master of modern art.
‘Scurrilous rags’ and ‘brimstone belchers’ – Cook Islands’ early newspapers
Saturday 8 October 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
An ‘insatiable lust’ for reading matter among Cook Islanders led to the appearance of Rarotonga’s first newspaper Te Punavai in 1843, printed with the help of the Sydney Morning Herald. Later in the century came Te Manu Rere, Te Torea and Ioi Karanga, all generating controversy and landing one local editor in prison – the first inmate of Rarotonga’s newest jail. By Rod Dixon.
Who really built Rev John Williams’ Rarotongan ship?
Saturday 27 August 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features
John Williams was an evangelical Christian determined to spread the gospel throughout the Pacific. To this end, he constructed a ship at Rarotonga in 1827 with a ‘mechanical ingenuity’ that gave him legendary status in Britain and beyond. But who really built the ‘Messenger of Peace’?
Marjorie Tua’inekore Crocombe – An exceptional life
Saturday 30 July 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Marjorie and Ron Crocombe lived up to exacting standards in their personal and professional lives and their combined efforts impacted and inspired uncountable others. We were privileged to know them, writes former USP director Rod Dixon.
Spain and Russia in Cook Islands
Saturday 23 July 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
Four hundred years after it was settled by Polynesians, Rakahanga was visited by a Spanish Expedition searching for Terra Australis, then two centuries later by Russia’s First Antarctic Expedition.
