More Top Stories
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
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
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
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Features
Exhibition showcases Aus-Cooks connections
The Australian High Commission in Rarotonga celebrated Australia Day with a beach barbeque and the launch of the ‘Stories of Friendship’ exhibition highlighting Cook Islanders’ connections to Australia.
Balancing tourism and culture
Cook Islands Tourism’s transparent, inclusive and practical planning public consultation which explored the challenges and opportunities tourism brings in all areas of wellbeing, drew a good number of community members.
Students need help to make history
Four students from the Hospitality Tourism Training Centre (HTTC) will make history at New Zealands premier student culinary and restaurant service competition but only if you help them make it there first. The Cook Islands students are hosting a swathe of fundraising dinners and lunches over the coming weeks in anticipation of next months Nestle […]
CI poetry part of book up for award
A poetry book featuring a number of Cook Islands poets has been shortlisted at the New Zealand Post Book Awards. Mauri Ola: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English, Whetu Moana II, is a finalist for the poetry category of this years Post book awards. Mauri Ola is a sequel to Whetu Moana a book of contemporary […]
Canoe gets some artistic flair
Young Cook Islands artist Nathan Welsh spray-paints his uncle Fletcher Melvins rudderless canoe. Welsh, who was born and bred on Rarotonga, is now based in New Zealand but is back home this week for his art show. His pieces which are influenced by street culture and contemporary urban art are on display at The Art […]
Tertiary scholarships available for study
Expressions of interest are being sought by the government for scholarship awards to study in New Zealand and the Pacific region. The Department of National Human Resources Development is calling on those interested in undertaking tertiary education to submit applications before July 7. Suitable qualified Cook Islanders will be considered for the scholarships for the […]
New shop a baby product wonderland
Newly opened shop Kidz R Us is offering a range of baby products from nappies and petroleum jelly to clothing, bedding and strollers. Owners Tashi and Ziona Tutai are renting the Maraerenga building and have transformed it into a purple and green wonderland for expectant mothers, new parents, and anyone wanting to purchase gifts and […]
Trader Jacks celebrates 25 years
Trader Jacks has buckled under the pressure of three separate cyclones, but each time its managed to rise again. And as it celebrates 25 years this week, the iconic bar boasts a reputation that stretches around the region and even, perhaps, the world. Twenty five years is a long time, owner Jack Cooper said, as […]
Stars shine bright in the legend Pipirima
For three hours on Wednesday night, a packed nearly-to-capacity auditorium was spellbound. Those who turned up to watch Once Upon a Reef the theatrical version of Cook Islands legend Pipirima had nothing but praise for the Cook Islands cast, crew and storyline. Main characters Melinda Pierre and Tuaine (Katu) Teiti were emotive and expressive, the […]
Rough conditions hamper annual fishing competition
Fishing conditions were unfavourable at the weekend where 17 boats headed out to contest the Don Beer Senior Memorial Trophy for the heaviest tuna in the annual competition over Queens Birthday weekend. Seventeen boats registered for the competition, but unfortunately the fishing conditions were far from ideal with a strong south-easterly blowing on both days […]
Pacific artist leaves indelible legacy
The local art community came together yesterday to celebrate the life of Jim Vivieaere, whose death last week left a void in the heart of many a Pacific artist. With artist Ani ONeill acting as master of ceremonies, the Rarotonga memorial service took place at the Peace Garden at Taputapuatea in Avarua. Artists, friends and […]
Show a once in a lifetime experience
Motone Productions Opera in Paradise wrapped up last weekend, with a deserved standing ovation for the two star singers at the Crown Beach Resort in Arorangi. The stars were two outstanding Pacific tenors, Ben Makisi and Cook Islander Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua. The two sold-out shows in Rarotonga were in aid of local charity Te Vaerua, which […]
Tiki Taane gig tickets going fast
Number one New Zealand artist Tiki Taane is performing for his second time on Rarotonga at an exclusive gig on Friday at Rehab Nightclub. The gig will open with local acts and then launch into Tikis acoustic set, ending in him performing an MC/DJ set. Tiki first came to Rarotonga back in 2007 for a […]
Rarotonga life seduces Australian couple
The newest owners of Saltwater Cafe were planning to grow old in their Brisbane home theyd even remodelled it last year. But somewhere along the way, Stephen and Sue Welsh fell in love with Rarotonga. After a holiday to Aitutaki and a conversation with Saltwaters former owners Mike and Pook, they made a spontaneous decision […]
Wedding makes magazine pages
The recent wedding of two young people with Cook Islands connections was of such celebrity status, it made it into the pages of popular New Zealand magazine Womans Weekly. The granddaughter of Meremaraea Macquarie married former All Black Tamati Ellison who is New Zealand Maori and the nephew of Arorangi Trades Training Centre director Boyd […]
Young artist nervous over show
Young Cook Islands artists Nathan Welsh and Mata Priest are doing their first show at The Art Studio in Arorangi. The exhibition opens for a preview today at 4pm, and will be on display from June 6 until June 15. Its an array of different works, including print, photography and paintings. Priest graduated from Tereora […]
Stone exhibition first of its kind
A collection of Cook Islands stone sites, structures and monuments will be on display at the National Museum, starting from tomorrow. The exhibition entitled Cook Islands in Stone opens for a preview tonight at 6 oclock and will be open to the public until June 21. The National Museum is staging the exhibition with help […]
Poor practise leads to ships grounding
Poor navigational and seamanship practice led Te Kou Maru II to run aground on the Mauke reef. The Ministry of Transport (MOT) has concluded its preliminary investigation into the stranding of the 45-metre Taio Shipping vessel on the reef last October, and MOT director of marine Ned Howard and Cook Islands Maritime Training Centre tutor […]
Tenors wrap up tonight
This weekends Opera in Paradise at the Crown Beach Resort features award-winning Samoan/Tongan tenor Benjamin Fifitia Makisi and Cook Islands very own tenor Bonaventure Allan Moetaua. Opera as a performance art is new to the South Pacific and it is now gaining interest here in Rarotonga. Like our own traditional performing art of Cook Islands […]
Doors open on revamped Spaghetti House
The Spaghetti House has a new look and a new menu. Host of New Zealand television series The Kitchen Job John Palino and Kiwi master chef Paul Edge were on Rarotonga last week with an eye to redesigning the restaurants decor and re-jigging its menu. The Monday night opening function of the redecorated and revamped […]
2 week surf mission wraps up
Sydney-based surfer Charlotte Pihos two-week mission to find the perfect Cook Islands wave dubbed The Awakening on her website ended on Tuesday night with a dinner-and-show function at Pacific Resort. The evening marked the end of a journey through the southern group islands to locate an untouched surfers paradise. Piho and her team which included […]
Ani puts spotlight on Cook Islands
The Cook Islands enjoyed some time in the spotlight at a recent Mangere Arts Centre show in Auckland. Tereora College art teacher and Pacific Sister Ani ONeill has returned from the show, where she opened her solo exhibition and performed with her group Pacific Sisters. Anis solo exhibition which runs at Mangere Arts Centre until […]