Features

They're back!

The 2010 whale season arrived with a bang last Friday when the first pod of whales was spotted off the reef of Rarotonga. And since then, migrating humpback whales have been putting on some spectacular displays out at sea. These playful antics by the whales are mostly due to the fact that their hormones are […]

Ombudsman considers anti-corruption

Assistant ombudsman Jeannine Daniel is currently in Samoa attending a conference on the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. She returns this weekend to brief ombudsman Janet Maki on what she learned and voice whether she feels that the Cook Islands can and should ratify the convention. “(Daniel) is at the conference to gather the information […]

Magic Moko, gone but not forgotten

He aitua I’m not sure whether you still have the word “aitua” in Cook Island’s Maori but in my brand of the language the statement means there’s been a death, and that’s what I thought I’d talk about this week. I’m referring to Moko the friendly bottlenose dolphin that, for some reason, preferred the company […]

Mobility bus for centre

Members of the Creative Centre School (above) in Tupapa proudly show off their new mobility bus which was donated to them by the Thames Rotary Club assisted by the Cook Islands Rotary Club. The bus has a wheelchair access ramp on the back and seats eight passengers, three wheelchair passengers and a driver. Creative Centre […]

Art symposium drawing large crowd

Around 150 people have already confirmed that they will be attending the prestigious Pacific Art Association’s Xth International Symposium, where many contemporary artists from the region will be displaying their work. “It’s great for the Cook Islands as so few of our artefacts are here. Most of them sit in museums in the northern hemisphere,” […]

Cowboys of yesteryear

Country hits writer dies

Hank Cochran, who wrote a cascade of country music hits, died on Thursday at his home near Nashville, according to his family. He was 74. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his family said. Cochran gave Willie Nelson his first break in Nashville, persuading his employer, Pamper Music, to hire Nelson. When Cochran was […]

Williams rejoins Take That

British singer Robbie Williams has rejoined former band Take That to record their first album together since he walked out on them 15 years ago, the group announced on Thursday. Williams got back together with the other four members of the successful British band – Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange and Mark Owen in […]

Film on women's rugby in Iran

If a relationship with a New Zealander will do nothing else for someone, it’ll give them an awareness of rugby. In the case of Faramaz Beheshti, a photographer of Iranian descent now living in New Zealand, it led him towards making Salam Rugby, a film on the unlikely subject of women’s rugby in Iran. “I’m […]

Te Maeva Nui goes international

Te Maeva Nui will be featured in an episode on locally aired television programme Pacific Pulse. Show presenter Clement Paligaru goes behind the scenes to see just how much work goes into each performance and to find varying views about whether competitions are the key to keeping the Cook Islands culture alive. The annual Te […]

Sharing childhood memories with family

Mark Holland getting his hair cut outside a hotel where the Banana Court now stands. Photo 8 “/> A baby faced Mark Holland in front of the Dobiri – a 60-foot ship that had taken them from Aitutaki to Rarotonga in 1959. Photo 3 “/> Back on Rarotonga again after 36 years, Mark Holland had […]

Matariki FM live online

Matariki FM, the only FM radio station with full coverage around Rarotonga, is now live online at www.matarikifm.co.ck and is now linked to the CI News website, cookislandsnews.com for better access to what’s happening in your community every day. Mervin Communications Director and the ‘Don of Maraerenga’ William Framhein says the website is still being […]

Seafari in new hands

New Seafari owners Sharon and Kevin Reichardt are fitting right in at the Avatiu harbour. They bought the fishing charter business from Greg Gustafson in March, but made the move from Rotorua to Rarotonga this month. The Reichardts have been coming to Rarotonga for a decade, and this year decided it was time to permanently […]

Ken Walter photo exhibit opens on Monday

A new PHOTO exhibition promises to open for visitors a window to the not-so-distant past. Fifty images shot by the late Ken Walters in the 70s, 80s and 90s will be on display from Monday evening at the Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery. Walters, who moved here from New Zealand in 1978, was responsible for introducing […]

Let's see openness from our politicians

There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the way politicians and the media work together in New Zealand. That’s right, that expression is ‘work together’. Even MPs from the NZ house reluctantly admit that the interaction they have with the press keeps their feet on the ground. MPs Brendon Burns and Dr […]

'Voices along the wayside'

Master carver and orator Mike Tavioni along with his students from Te Rakei Toa programme will be launching their DVD of poems tonight at the National Auditorium at 5pm. Tavioni and the young boys of Te Rakei Toa are extending an open invitation to the general public to come along to the launch evening for […]

Eclipse to track across the Cooks next Sunday

‘Eclipse-chasers’ from all over the world are gearing up to watch one of nature’s greatest shows from Mangaia next weekend. On Sunday July 11, tourists and locals will crowd the Mangaia airstrip to watch the moon block out the sun for three minutes and 18 seconds. The moon’s shadow makes its first contact with Mangaia […]

Down memory lane after 36 years

Former Rarotonga resident Mark Holland returned recently after 36 years to show off the island to his family. Holland moved to Rarotonga with his parents Jack and Beverly Holland over 50 years ago and attended the Nikao Side School from 1959 to 1961. His father was the Director of Primary School Education and his mother […]

Pacific Break offers shot at fame

Calling all budding Cook Islands musicians, here is your chance to get that break you’ve always dreamed of. Radio Australia’s Pacific Break is a competition that is searching for the best original unsigned musical talent in the Pacific. Entry is easy just send in your original work on MP3, CD or tape. Every week on […]

Wheel superhero

Batman in training Sam Head was pictured zooming around in Arorangi on his ‘Bat-mobile’ with dad Dean. Four-year old Sam loves dressing up as Batman and thinks he can fly too! 10070201