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
Finding solace in paradise
The World Day of Prayer pilgrimage to the Cook Islands has provided a stark contrast between the peaceful island life and the ongoing turmoil in Lebanon for a visiting participant who has found peace and inspiration in the island’s culture and deeply rooted faith.
‘I made you wonderful’
The World Day of Prayer pilgrim were hosted by the Catholic Women of the Cook Islands at the Saint Joseph’s Cathedral yesterday.
Kiwi movie producer holidays in Raro
Up-and-coming Kiwi movie producer Peter Frahm is in the throes of a week-long holiday on Rarotonga. He and his family are here to celebrate his son’s wedding, which took place on Friday afternoon on Motu Koromiri. Frahm wrote, produced and starred in his first and latest full-feature film, The China Cup, which premiered last year […]
'Aunty's still here'
Nikao MP and former minister Ngamau Munokoa is well, just… Aunty Mau. This reporter rolls up around 3.10pm to her Nikao home with a good excuse for being 10 minutes late. But that’s not a problem. She calls out from inside the kitchen that she has just arrived home with two of her friends after […]
Minister's priority
New energy minister William ‘Smiley’ Heather says he’s right behind the national energy committee’s recommendations. “Alternative energy is another key focus for me. It’s a priority on my list.” While he’s not been long on the job, Heather has had meetings with the members of the committee and he’s encouraged by what he’s heard so […]
Half Caste, inspired clothing
For some people, being called a half caste is an offence but for Cook Islander Alissa Morgan-Ziogas being of mixed race has helped inspire her new street and team wear clothing design label Half Caste. “In our family we’ve always laughed about being half castes but for some people it can be a bit rude,” […]
The action plan
The national energy committee has managed to get approval for 15 low-risk initiatives for alternative energy use that can start now: – Adopt net metering and post-production incentives – not only allowing power consumers to use solar and wind energy to reduce power use and receive payment for power produced for the grid, but also […]
Taking the first steps
There’s been a two-year build up of national consultations and brainstorming by Beer’s committee that has now resulted in the ‘small basket of 15 early, high-gain steps of moderate cost’ initiatives recently approved by cabinet. James Beer says the 15 initiatives which are starting now are part of a much, much longer and more ambitious […]
Support needed for sustainable energy plan
National Energy Committee chairman James Beer has recently been prompted to explain more about exactly what the country’s strategy is for alternative energy – and why it’s never as simple as it sounds to ‘go green’. In a sun-drenched country like our own, there’s even more reason to use solar energy for power generation but […]
New year, new dance group for Joyce
A treasure of Cook Islands culture was appropriately found near the Sir Geoffrey Henry Centre early in the week. Joyce Fortes –whose Te Mire Kapa 2006 performance has received 92,083 hits on just one YouTube clip – was spotted on a quick break at the local library. The dancer is considering studying with the USP […]
Cricketing fun and prizes for kids
While the big boys battled it out on the cricket pitch last Saturday – aspiring junior cricketers were given the opportunity to show off their own cricket skills. At the end of the first innings between Royal Heat and the Superkings, junior cricket fans were called on to the field to showcase their catching skills. […]
Lashing out at Beachcomber
The digital installation Lash by world artist Hye Rim Lee (see www.hyerimlee.com) opens today (Friday) at Beachcomber Contemporary Art in Taputapuatea. Lash features the now increasingly recognised mythical TOKI character created by Lee. TOKI (Korean for Rabbit and bearing a striking resemblance to the artist), is an evolving female persona, drawing upon the traditions of […]
Next Akanoa family reunion in 2012
The Akanoa family reunion concluded on New Year’s day after a week of genealogy sessions, fun and activities. The 70-plus participants camped at the local school, and started off the reunion with attendance at the Arorangi Cook Islands Christian Church on Sunday, December 27. From then on it was about introducing everyone to each other, […]
Festive fun for Nicholas-Tauira family
Healthy family fun was the theme of the Nicholas and Tauira families’ festive season camp over the Christmas and New Year period. Around 20 members of the family gathered for their annual camp, held this time at the Avatiu sports clubhouse with numerous fun activities planned to encourage the bond between the family members. The […]
Pacific Mini Games 2009
1 The gold medals won by young athletes Kairangi Vano, Elmay Viking and Helema Williams easily stand out as the number one moment from the games as all three teenagers ended the games with double gold medals. Vano won double gold in tennis not only earning her the honour of carrying the national flag at […]
Cousinly love in family camp
The next family gathering will be a tour to Australia this coming April with the clan, including the kiddies, spending most of 2009 cutting grass and dancing to raise funds for the trip.
Banyan tree exhibition a visual marvel
The Banyan Tree art exhibition is a visual marvel and thought-provoking show which opened in the Cook Islands on Thursday night. The travelling art exhibition inspired by the banyan tree combines video footage, photography, sculptures and paintings to express the significance of the tree to different cultures all over world. Local art enthusiasts, artists and […]
1999 and all things political
It’s quite funny looking back to 1999 and comparing it to the events of the past two-and-a-half weeks. For one, most of the same people involved at that time are still involved in politics. Wilkie Rasmussen is a minister of the Jim Marurai cabinet now. But he wasn’t an MP in 1999. He missed out […]
THE YEAR IN BRIEF 2009
An 18-year-old escaped from custody at Arorangi prison. Daniel Mare was later captured by police while trying to buy a ticket to Aitutaki, fellow inmate Vaikoloa Taufahema was caught shortly after the escape. A 33-year-old motorcyclist received surgery after driving head on into a vehicle driven by tourist. Police said the man crossed the centre […]
Reward offered for return of stolen items
Artist and teacher aide Donia Lilly came home to a not-so-happy new year early last Friday morning. Her home was broken into and Lilly lost hundreds of hours of work on items of equipment that were taken in the burglary. “I’m on a teacher’s aide wage,” says Lilly. “Teacher aides don’t get holiday pay. My […]
Kingston women celebrate achievements
Cook Islanders helped to celebrate the networking achievements of women in the Kingston, Melbourne, in Victoria, Australia, last month. Also present was Kingston’s new mayor Steve Staikos who spoke at the Victorian Women’s Link event on Sunday December 6 at the Westall Primary School grounds. More than a 100 people, mostly women and children, celebrated […]
Art piece dresses space
Local artist Krick Barraud continues to use the methodology of ‘dressing space’ to address the cultural landscape with the instalment of her latest piece – ‘lemon, lime and bitter’. Her latest work was revealed recently, suspended from a beam inside the ‘wrapped’ limestone building in which the artists used in her first instalment ‘endangered species’. […]