More Top Stories
Charlie-Puna admits to café visit, loses prison privileges
10 September 2024
Browne calls for investigation into prison work release programme
11 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
11 months jail for man caught smuggling 1.176kg of cannabis
13 August 2024
Helmet safety concerns raised amid enforcement challenges
2 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
STI cases on the rise
2 September 2024
Accused rapist admits to 47 charges, suppression lifted
31 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
Tapaitau appeal dismissed
17 July 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
TB cases detected
1 June 2024
Features
Priced out of paradise
Despite its efforts to address depopulation, Cook Islands is facing a steady decline in its population due to a combination of economic, social and health factors, leading many residents to seek better opportunities abroad.
‘He waka eke noa – We are all in this together’
Cook Islands last week bid farewell to Tūī Dewes, the former Aotearoa New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, who completed a four-year term on September 6, 2024. In an interview with senior journalist Melina Etches, Dewes reflects on her achievements and contributions, shared interests and enhancing Māori-to-Māori ties.
New gallery, new inspiration
Saturday 18: The all new Beachcomber Contemporary Art Gallery in Taputapuatea is under construction with a confirmed opening date of June 8 2009. The new gallery is a purpose built art space, dedicated to the exhibition of Paintings, Sculpture, Installation, New Media, Digital & Video art forms. An impressive exhibition schedule is under development that […]
Workshop prompts artist in new direction
Saturday 18: Local artist Apii Rongo has decided to pursue a new direction in producing sculpture works after taking part in CollaboratioNZ 2009 last month. The week-long art workshop and conference was held in Whangarei, New Zealand. The biennial event invites six international artists, as well national artists and up to 25 other artists to […]
Fine wine and great food – a perfect match
Saturday 18: To appreciate a good wine you need great food and most importantly like-minded people to create a night to remember. And that’s exactly what wine club members of ‘fine wine Cook Islands’, a product of Deli Foods Ltd, have been enjoying. Wine club members and non-members like myself gathered at the Pacific Resort […]
Kwai on its way from Hawaii
Saturday 11: The American sailing cargo vessel Kwai (above) is due to arrive in Rarotonga in late May on its first voyage of the year to the Cooks. The Kwai is now taking orders for cargo. Scope Ltd, a new local cargo handling service, is working in association with the Kwai, also taking orders for […]
Marine conservation advocates raise concern for Muri's coral
Saturday 11: The debate on whether coral should be removed from Muri lagoon for the Pacific Mini Games oe vaka event is heating up. The Cook Islands Canoeing Association is seeking a location where they can put a 500 metre by 150 metre course to meet the requirements of the code. CICA president Tina Newport […]
No news is good news
Saturday 11: Looking for pirates at sea and ‘catching’ Te Kukupa hard at work miles from no-where – these were the highlights of a day aboard an air force Orion for Cook Islands News editor John Woods. He went along for the ride on an eight-hour flight worth about $70,000 an hour. It’s dog out […]
Keep your pearly whites clean
Saturday 11: Dental Services is promoting Dental Health week this week with some key messages. Today they are raising awareness about brushing, dental check ups and keeping that pearly white smile for life: Brush with fluoride toothpaste and floss Everyone should brush their teeth at least twice a day, preferably after eating. Brushing your teeth […]
The fabulous 2009 pageant
Saturday 11: The show is over but the memories remain. The fabulous Miss Cook Islands Pageant finale last week showcased the beauty, personality and style of nine young women in what some have hailed as the best pageant night ever. From glamorous gowns to the array of talent, including guest performers Janet Dearlove and international […]
Trash pit to be cleaned up
Saturday 11: The National Environment Service is now stepping in to clean up this rubbish pit in Tupapa after landowners failed to carry out the work as directed. NES is advising the landowners that the seven-day notice to close a large rubbish pit there has expired and the work will be carried out by T&M […]
Serving up sushi
Saturday 4: A new business venture in Muri is serving traditional Japanese food with a Cook Islands flavour. Newly opened Island Sushi is offering a healthy option for eating out, owners Brent Holley and partner Grace Henry say. “It’s just something lighter to eat… a lot of takeaway food is quite heavy like chips and […]
A real mouthful
Saturday 4: It makes sense that the full name behind Rarotonga’s new range of VMV organic breads should be quite a mouthful – Varoa Mata, Miti e Vai Ltd. It stands for flower, salt and water – the simple basics of any good bread. But the new product range from Reuben and Victoria Dearlove’s Matavera […]
Workshop to help with entry process
Saturday 4: If you have been thinking about entering the Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards, the organisers have arranged a helping hand. A workshop will be held on Monday to go through details of the entry process. The awards committee and the Business Trade and Investment Board are running the workshop to be […]
Survivor expert scores role on BBC reality show
Saturday 4: Aitutakian field archaeologist Ngaakitai Pureariki worked on the set of the recently filmed BBC show The Real Swiss Family Robinson in Atiu. The Real Swiss Family Robinson follows four ‘overstretched, stressed out families’ as they say goodbye to their regular lives and sign up for a three-week crash course in the simple life […]
Why these awards are good for us - It's time to celebrate our industry
Saturday 4: ‘From the old coconuts rooted to the ground shall grow many tall strong trees for shelter and sustenance’……after the Hurricane 1895. In the early days just after our Rarotonga International Airport was opened, tourism was not just a new word in our vocabulary, it was the beginning of the future. Thirty plus years […]
Expert tourism assessor will do 'report cards'
Saturday 4: The Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards is using the impressive services of Tourism Consultants Ltd from New Zealand to help make the inaugural event of great value to all those who enter. Not only has the company designed the judging criteria for the awards, it will also provide a ‘report card’ […]
Why 'I'm in' – Greg Stanaway
Saturday 4: Tourism industry council president and general manager of Pacific Resort and Pacific Resort Aitutaki, Greg Stanaway, says he is a big believer in industry awards. And yes, both resorts will be entering the Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards. “Pacific Resort will be entering both its resorts in this awards programme because […]
Air new zealand cook islands tourism awards 2009
Saturday 4: Inaugural awards will provide more for industry The Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards promise to be a valuable experience for all who enter the inaugural event this year. The awards entry has been extended to April 17 – so if you are ‘in tourism’ then you can still be in to […]
Lover of sport
While Mama Lou took up lawn bowls and golf in her later years, she began life as a keen netballer and tennis player. Her son Hugh says her comic bowling style was mentioned at her funeral along with photos shown of her rather energetic and dramatic attempts to use her body to guide the bowl. […]
She kept on giving
Saturday 4: Mama Lou’s son Hugh says her children remember their mother as a woman who, annoying at times for them, was always giving things away to people. “Her home was always open and she was always giving, giving, giving. She was always there to help others. Now I follow the same principle and help […]
Goodbye, Mama Lou
Saturday 4: Eikura Louise Graham (nee Henry), best known as Mama Lou, passed away on March 22 at the age of 72 leaving the country in mourning for a woman who will be remembered for her work, grace and generosity. Mama Lou is survived by her husband Papa Puru, her children Elizabeth, 48, Peter, 47, […]