More Top Stories
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
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
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Articles by Utopia Support
'Always think before you act'
Monday 8 April 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I believe it’s appropriate to raise the issue of two words that some people find a little difficult to distinguish between.
Concern over lawyer in petition case
Monday 8 April 2019 | Published in Politics
Questions are being raised whether the legal representation of a political aspirant in the High Court by the associate minister of Justice is a conflict of interest and breach of ethics.
Local businesses can help reduce your plastics
Saturday 6 April 2019 | Published in Environment
Globally we are becoming more aware that the amount of waste we produce, as well as the resources it takes to create and then dispose of it post-use, is a huge problem that needs our focus. You only need to look around at the amount of plastic littering our roads, streams and beaches to understand the problem we are facing.
Touchdown for Air NZ's latest jet
Thursday 4 April 2019 | Published in Technology
Air New Zealand has flown its new A321neo (new engine option) aircraft to the Cook Islands for the first time with flight NZ746 touching down at Rarotonga International Airport with 191 customers on board.
Opportunities for interns with seabed authority
Thursday 4 April 2019 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) has training opportunities available for Cook Islander graduates to do internships in Singapore and Korea.
Disgusted at age insult
Tuesday 2 April 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, I was appalled and disgusted about Mark Brown's insulting remark on Nandi Glassie on TV last Friday night's news. It is so low for a minister of the Crown to attack innocent members of the public - particularly pensioners.
Glassie's petition action unsurprising
Tuesday 2 April 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Now that Demo’s Nandi Glassie has filed a petition in the High Court challenging Te-Hani Brown’s win in the TAN Atiu by-election of March 18, it is amusing to see deputy prime minister Mark Brown’s reaction to it.
Seabed minerals officer observes Jamaica council
Tuesday 2 April 2019 | Published in Local
Seabed Minerals Authority Geographical Information Systems officer Rima Browne attended the 25th council session of the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica, as a non-executive observer.
Helen Clark to speak at Rotary dinner
Tuesday 2 April 2019 | Published in Local
It’s not every day you get the chance to dine with and hear from one of the most influential and powerful people on the planet, but towards the end of next month that opportunity will be open to a couple hundred people here in Rarotonga. The Rotary Club of Rarotonga is celebrating its 50th birthday on April 27 with a special dinner and with a very special guest speaker. Helen Clark had a reasonably typical New Zealand post Second World War upbringing; born in 1950 she was the eldest of four daughters raised on a farm near Hamilton in Waikato. She went to the local Te Pahu primary school, then to Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland, and then to Auckland University. But that’s where the “reasonably typical” changed a bit. She studied politics and became active in the Labour Party, not exactly what you would expect of a Waikato farmer’s daughter, especially one who at the time supported the National Party. It’s history now that the Rt-Hon Clark went on to have a very successful political and international career, much of which I covered as a journalist in New Zealand. Clark was first elected to the New Zealand Parliament in 1981 when she contested and won the Mt Albert seat; it remained hers until she resigned from Parliament in April 2009. She got her first taste of governing in the term of the fourth Labour government led by David Lange that won the 1984 election. In the then record two back to back terms of that government, Clark held a number of different portfolios, starting in 1987and was also appointed deputy prime minister. Labour lost the 1990 electon and narrowly lost again in 1993. By then Mike Moore was leader of the party and Clark successfully challenged for the leadership. What followed next was six years in opposition, and despite losing the 1996 election and having poor personal and party polling figures, Clark survived a challenge from fellow front bencher Phil Goff, to lead the party into the next election. By 1999 Clark’s time had come. In a historic election that saw two women – Clark and Jenny Shipley - facing off against each other for the first time for the top job, Clark became the first woman elected prime minister of New Zeland; while Shipley had been National’s prime minister before the election, her elevation was as a result of an internal power struggle with then prime minister Jim Bolger, not as a result of a general election. Under Clark’s leadership Labour had its most successful run in government. She led the party to a new record of three back-to-back wins. It was often a reforming goverment which like all governments had its highs and lows. They say that New Zealand “votes goverments out, not in” and by the end of its third term Labour was starting to look tired, and the electorate seemed to be in a mood for change. Under New Zealand’s MMP election system National won the highest number of seats on election night November 8, 2008, and John Key became prime minister to lead the new government. Breaking with tradition Clark announced she was resigning as Labour leader and not staying on in oppoisition. In doing so she ended a record 14 years and 69 days in that role. She remained on the Labour back bench until April 2009 when she resigned from Parliament. Still only in her late 50s and with so much governance and international experience, it was inevitable that she still had more to contribute; so it was no surprise when it was announced that she had been appointed to head the (UNDP) United Nations Development Programme. Despite losing the 2008 election, a poll conducted by the New Zealand Herald newspaper a couple of months later, chose Clark as the “Greatest Living New Zealander”, she narrowly defeated Victoria Cross winner Willie Apiata. Clark served two four-year terms as head of the UNDP, part way through her second term, she threw her hat into the contest to succeed the then Secretary General of the United Nations – Ban Kee Moon – she was unsuccessful. Clark chose to end her time with the United Nations after her second term at UNDP, but continues a busy international life. In recent weeks she’s announced the establishment of the Helen Clark Foundation, an independent public policy think tank to research and tackle “the big issues”. Clark is coming here at the invitation of the President of the Rarotonga Rotary Club – Jaewynn McKay. McKay was often involved in projects with Clark during her time in government. “Since coming back to live here in the Cook Islands I have often sort ways of attracting Helen to come here and to give people an opportunity to hear her speak, knowing that she has so much knowledge to share, and is so inspirational. I was finally successful on this occassion.” The dinner will be held at the Aro’a Nui Hall in Arorangi. It will mark the establishment of the world’s best known and biggest service club, Rotary, here 50 years ago. Tickets to the dinner cost $120 and can be purchased from the Computer Man or Jaewynn (55486). -Derek Fox
Eco-certs to be launched
Tuesday 2 April 2019 | Published in Local
To coincide with the Mana Tiaki week from the April 1-5, Cook Islands Tourism along with their partners will launch the Mana Tiaki Eco Certification (MTEC) at the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre in Arorangi on Wednesday from 8.30am.
Green Expo ready for Mana Tiaki event list
Monday 1 April 2019 | Published in Local
To coincide with the Mana Tiaki week from April 1 Cook Islands Tourism with their partners have organised a Green Expo at the Discover Marine and Wildlife Eco Centre in Arorangi on Wednesday April 3 from 9am.
Legal opinion on seabed 'goldrush'
Saturday 30 March 2019 | Published in Environment
The first, and most theoretical, point outlined by CJ Iorns Magallanes in her review of the Seabed Minerals Bill 2019 is this: as humans, we have created laws and processes that allow us to make money off of our resources, but is this still our moral right, considering the current rate of decline of the natural world?
In terrible times such as these...
Friday 29 March 2019 | Published in Church Talk
In the aftermath of the Christchurch attack, people everywhere are once again reminded of the vulnerability of life. That our lives today, can be taken from us in a matter of seconds.
Sanitise our water Anolyte is way to
Thursday 28 March 2019 | Published in Politics
Tupapa-Maraerenga MP George Maggie is taking the initiative to get extra testing done at his water station with assistance from local businessman Chris Pureau.
Big day of junior football
Wednesday 27 March 2019 | Published in Football
The day-long junior primary school’s football tournament is set to kick off today at 8am at the CIFA complex in Matavera.
Heads of mission meet with Forum Fisheries Agency
Wednesday 27 March 2019 | Published in Politics
Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand Elizabeth Wright-Koteka was delighted to host Pacific Heads of Mission from Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu for a meeting with the director-general of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen and deputy director-general, Matt Hooper.
New editor for CI News
Wednesday 27 March 2019 | Published in Local
COOK ISLANDS NEWS has announced the appointment of a new editor, as its online readership is hitting new highs.
Giving litter bugs no excuses at the Social Centre
Tuesday 26 March 2019 | Published in Environment
Four bin recycling stations have been set up along Social Centre beach starting from Black Rock.
Mana Tiaki starts next week
Tuesday 26 March 2019 | Published in Local
The Mana Tiaki week that will showcase a variety of cultural demonstrations, live music and dancing, and encourage audience participation is fast approaching and everyone is welcome to attend.
Waiting for potential by-election petition
Monday 25 March 2019 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, With the Electoral Office’s release last week of the official and final Atiu count confirming Independent Te-Hani Brown with 80 votes, and Demo’s Nandi Glassie securing 50 votes, we now await a period of seven days to see whether or not the Democratic Party will file a petition alleging voting irregularity during the election.