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
Maoate ready for Miss Pacific Islands Pageant
Miss Cook Islands Pageant Association (MCIPA) is proud of Miss Cook Islands Ngatepaeru Marie Maoate’s commitment to building a strong campaign at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Church Talk: Overcoming fear through faith in Christ
Fear is a powerful emotion that many experience throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, its impact can keep us from stepping forward in faith, rob us of joy, and make us doubt God’s promises, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Begin by putting God first
Do not be satisfied in being the same person you have always been but put God first and learn to walk with Him every day, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of Seventh-Day Adventist Church.
A ‘Whopper’ of an opportunity
In the midst of a pandemic, local tour guides and creatives found themselves working together to help create an ad campaign for one of Oceania’s most recognisable brands.
Thriving in a man’s world
Frances Taoro returned to her birthplace Mauke in October 2003 for a short visit but an experience there led her to change her mind. She stayed back and started a business operating from a small room on the verandah of their family home. Today, her one stop shop Kato’s General Store continues to thrive.
‘Be proud of who you are’
Dr Jon Tikivanotau Jonassen is passionate about Cook Islands culture and is now on a mission to record all he has experienced and learned in a book to preserve the country’s culture for future generations.
Discovering your identity and purpose
We need to know that we have purpose in life, that we’re not just an accident, that regardless of our situation, there is still purpose and meaning to our lives, writes Pastor Paul Kauri.
Rukau - A simple delight
A staple at many island tables, but it must be thoroughly cooked to eliminate the needle-like crystals of oxalate that can burn your throat.
Embarking on a second homecoming
At the beginning of 2019, Vainepoto Tangaroa traded her mum’s slice of paradise, Gisborne and Tokomaru Bay on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand, for that of her late father’s, the beautiful Cook Islands. Tangaroa tells associate editor Katrina Tanirau why it’s a decision she’s glad she made.
Teaching the teachers of te reo Maori
Deploying an effective academic programme is challenging in the best of times, but it took a pandemic to bring together an all-star roster of Cook Islands academics that are helping a group of local University students to revitilise te reo o te Kuki Airani.
Rangokere – a time to share, be grateful and appreciate Mauke
The Christmas and New Year Day festive season in Mauke is about “rangokere” – the gifting of baskets of food, the picnics, the joyful songs and dances and the hosting of specially prepared feasts in homes – teretere or roni.
‘Being in Mauke really felt like going home’
Tere Carr, husband Mike, children Kiva and Maeva, and mother Rongo Preston chose to spend the Christmas break on Mauke, a place she had last visited in the early 1990s.
Facing new challenges in 2021
The year 2020 had chartered our course through challenges and disruptions of Covid-19, but praise be to our God, for His unwavering grace which allowed us to come through safe and sound, writes Reverend Vakaroto Ngaro of Avarua Ekalesia.
Matu rori – the best tasting spaghetti from the sea
The fatty spaghetti-like tissue inside the sea cucumber is a Cook Islands delicacy, writes Mereana Hutchinson.
Inclusion for all members of our society
Parents and families of children/adults with disabilities or genetic conditions have battled for some time for their loved ones to be included and accepted in society.
2020: The year that was
It goes without saying that Covid-19 is the story of 2020, hands down. The virus dominated the headlines during the year, with many of the most popular stories shedding light on the impact it has had on all of us. But Covid-19 wasn’t the only story of the year. Cook Islands News takes a look back at the pandemic and other stories that defined the year 2020 …
‘You try and fit your life into a paragraph’
When former Cook Islands News editor Jonathan Milne and his family visit Atiu Villas, the story-telling rambles late into the night, and beyond.
'We are all in this together'
Let us all continue to share our joys with one another, our concerns with one another, challenges with one another, needs with one another, outreach sharing and compassion with one another, writes Bishop Tutai Pere.
The most popular online stories of 2020
Here’s the top 10 online stories of 2020 from Cookislandsnews.com.
The unforgettable serenity of the north
During a trip to the Northern Cook Islands, journalist Emmanuel Samoglou saw places of incredible beauty but facing isolation, a lack of resources, and economic hardship. Yet at the same time, he met residents who often described a freedom that comes from choosing to live life on modest terms. In this second of a two-part series, he moves on from Pukapuka to visit Manihiki and Penrhyn atolls of the Northern Cook Islands.
An Oxford University professor’s ‘Eureka!’ moment on Rarotonga
A collision between a Rarotonga hire-bike and a coconut tree led to a Eureka moment for an Oxford professor, who passed away last week. Rod Dixon pays tribute to the distinguished human geneticist.
Rarotonga: Home away from home
Coral Seath was holidaying in Rarotonga when NZ went into lockdown. Instead of rushing home, she and her partner Carlie Paterson chose being ‘happily stranded’ in the Cooks. She left months later, looking forward to seeing her family but sad to say goodbye to Rarotonga – her second home.
