More Top Stories
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 Thomas Tarurongo Wynne
Thomas Wynne: Gratefulness should not mean silence on the past
Saturday 16 November 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Our Ariki ceded our sovereignty in 1900 to a curious Great Britain and a sub-empire-building New Zealand colony for many reasons, and some suggest we should simply be grateful for this. Thomas Wynne writes.
Thomas Wynne: Is it his story or your story?
Saturday 9 November 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
In a world increasingly thrown into conflict, be it military, social, or cultural, how have we stopped listening to each other and instead become obsessed with being either right or wrong, for or against, standing with or standing against, condemning or supporting a cause? writes Thomas Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: What is the 16th Island of the Cooks?
Saturday 2 November 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
People often refer to Tokoroa as the 16th Island of the country currently called the Cook Islands, though many may not know, that historically, Niue held this distinction. Thomas Wynne writes.
Thomas Wynne: Do we have a healthy democracy?
Saturday 26 October 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
If we were to give our democracy a scorecard out of ten, what would that number be, and what questions would we ask our government to help us determine that score? A healthy democracy is often characterised by robust institutions, active citizen participation, respect for human rights, and accountability. Thomas Wynne writes.
Thomas Wynne: The debate over Cook Islands passport
Saturday 19 October 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Our identity as Māori is attached to our akapapa and our akapapa is attached to land. Land, that has over time become more fragmented, smaller and occupied by often vacant land owners, but this is not about land tenure and absentee landowners, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Time for a moratorium on travel?
Saturday 12 October 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
At the stroke of a pen, 50 nautical miles outside of every island that makes up the country we now call the Cook Islands was protected. This also allowed for pockets of commercial activity, managed in balance with the environment and aimed at creating revenue for our country and its people.
Thomas Wynne: Addressing concerns and protecting our interests
Saturday 5 October 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
To address potential concerns and further strengthen the protection of the Cook Islands’ interests, I have emailed the Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) the following additions or amendments to the draft seabed mining regulations.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne: The deeper debate on deep-sea mining
Saturday 28 September 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Some say there is not enough evidence or data so stop, and some say well, it is from God so we must proceed, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Be a good ancestor
Saturday 21 September 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
We are more than just warriors, we are data collectors too. We all have that person in our family who is the data collector – generally a genealogy data collector, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Tarurongo Wynne: Honouring the unsung heroes of home
Saturday 14 September 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
For the many at home who keep the fires burning, who keep the economy going, and who maintain the family homes and land – clean, trimmed, and functioning – I just want to say meitaki maata, meitaki ranuinui, atupaka, korereka, ngao, and atawai wolo, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Two faces of power
Saturday 7 September 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
I was fortunate to sit on two paepae this week – one for the funeral of the Māori King, Tūheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII, whose daughter, Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō, was crowned with a Bible soon afterward, and another for those who were abused by another crown, where the Bible was sometimes used not to bless but to curse, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: The many faces of fatherhood
Saturday 31 August 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Our Papa, our fathers, our Metua, Pops, or simply Dad – as we celebrate Father’s Day, the word “father” evokes a mixture of feelings and memories about the roles they have played in our families and lives, whether present, absent, or just passing through, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: What is lawful is not always what is right
Saturday 24 August 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Travel for government is an absolute necessity, that much is true, but it should never be treated as a blank cheque, without public scrutiny and a scrutiny balanced against the many pressing priorities a community faces, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Preserving our Māori identity
Saturday 17 August 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
An older brother is always an older brother, no matter where they live or in what country they reside, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Embracing protest and disagreement
Saturday 10 August 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
In our ever-connected world, it’s easy to find ourselves nestled within the warm embrace of those who share our views, beliefs and convictions. This comfort, while reassuring, can also become a prison — a self-imposed echo chamber where dissenting voices are drowned out, shunned, even publicly ridiculed, and the richness of diverse perspectives is lost, Thomas Tarurongo Wynne writes.
Thomas Wynne: Celebrating our heritage
Saturday 3 August 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Nothing is more important to identity and a sense of who one is than being able to celebrate who you are, what you are, and your special place in the world, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: The hidden scars of our community
Saturday 27 July 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
Just over 30 per cent of all those who identified as Pacific islanders to the Royal Commission into Abuse in State Care in Aotearoa identified as Cook Islanders, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Who is a patriot?
Saturday 20 July 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
What is a patriot? Is it simply a green, red, blue, or gold flag waved, anthems sung, or a political position or party held high like the only hope of a country being great or even great again? Thomas Tarurongo Wynne writes.
Thomas Wynne: Rethinking the national flag for the future
Saturday 13 July 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
As our 60th anniversary approaches next year as a self-governing country, flags serve as powerful emblems of nationalism and identity. They represent a nation’s values, history and aspirations, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Thomas Wynne: Tu Tangata: Our identity
Saturday 6 July 2024 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Editorials, Opinion
As a country, and as Iti Tangata, this week is significant as it heralds two very important events. These events capture the essence and Tu tangata of who we are as a people, who we were, who we want to maintain, and who we hope to become in the future, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.