More Top Stories
‘Nothing to worry about’: Prime Minister Brown on China agreement
16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
15 February 2025
Ruta Mave: People’s Republic of China red flag
10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
8 February 2025
Thomas Wynne: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?
8 February 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
$541.7m tourism earnings
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
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Features
Film Raro2 casting call open to all ages
Fearless Cook Islands heroes and heroines of all ages are encouraged to audition for Film Raro2 who are back in Rarotonga looking for a cast of characters.
Seventeen composers for Mire Atu
Cook Islands composers are prepared to take centre stage this month in the prestigious Tauranga Vananga/Ministry of Cultural Development Te Pae Tai Nui Mire Atu original Māori song composers competition.
Party all the time
You will have seen the work of Party Hire around the island, be it at any of the Punanga Nui night markets or the prime minister’s functions. The business caters for all party needs for a variety of events – from family reunions, weddings and funerals to corporate and government functions. White is the colour […]
Student teachers enjoying island experience
Continuing an 18 year tradition, student teachers from Monash University are visiting the Cook Islands for the next three weeks. Monash University has 23 students currently placed across the primary and secondary schools in Rarotonga, with some students due to visit Aitutaki and Mangaia also. Deanne Pattieson and Ryan Lucas will be spending the next […]
Gold Coast office pushes Cooks
The Tourism Cook Islands office on the Gold Coast hopes to enlist the help of Cook Islands communities across the country to spread the word of their beautiful homeland to the greater Australian population. Tourism Cook Islands director of sales and marketing Karla Eggelton visited the new Cook Islands Tourism representative office on the Gold […]
Second licence up for grabs
Government has a two-licence policy in terms of international shipping – not one, which would engender a shipping monopoly, and not three, for fear that a third line would be neither financially viable nor necessary. The logic is that the Cook Islands just do not import or export enough cargo volumes to warrant a third […]
Hamiltonians here with guitar and jazz bands
Hamilton Boys High School musicians wowed Tereora College students and staff yesterday when they took to the Princess Anne Hall to perform for the local school. The visiting New Zealand school group is on a musical tour of the islands and on their very first morning on Rarotonga – they made two special performances at […]
Versatile Tina Cross ready to rock
Prominent pop star Tina Cross is on The Rock and ready to rock. The diminutive Kiwi diva has been this week flitting between acoustic rehearsals, media briefings, photo shoots and friends’ homes on her maiden visit to Rarotonga. Tina says her long-time friend and mentor Penny Akapi-Maich – who started making Tina’s show costumes when […]
Emergent artist exhibition on show
Emerging Cook Islands artists have recently had the opportunity to create and exhibit new pieces of work. The National Museum is currently showing the Cook Islands Emerging Artists Exhibition, which is the outcome of a series of workshops that were run by well-known artist Ian George, arts advisor for the Ministry of Education. The workshops […]
Cook-off in Turangi today
It is all hands on deck at the Hospitality Tourism Training Centre (HTTC) where over 35 chefs, baristas and bartenders will put their skills to the test in the annual Cook Islands Salon Culinaire. The competition, now into its second year, sees hospitality and tourism industry members pitted against each other to test their skills […]
Aitutaki film makes third festival
A short film shot in Aitutaki has made it into its third film festival this year. Written and directed by Nikki Si’ulepa, daughter of Rarotonga’s own Ronnie Si’uelpa, the film was shot on location in Aitutaki last year and produced this year in New Zealand. The nine-minute short film was earlier this year accepted into […]
Tina Cross is coming to Raro
New Zealand pop diva and musical theatre star Tina Cross is coming to the Cook Islands for the first time. She will be performing at the Crown Beach Resort & Spa on June 29 and 30 and on July 1. Her career spans more than 30 years, but Tina is still very much at the […]
Octopoems rule at Papaaroa
A witch is black She is the winter time in a bright sunny room She is a cold blistering day A black dress with a pointy hat A long flying broom She is bewitch A delicious, roasted pumpkin By Lovy Parker A fairy is bright and colourful She is the spring time on top of […]
Art installation inspires FAITH
It was a true sensory experience at the preview of the FAITH art installation, at the Art Studio on Friday. As dusk fell the first art work, FAITH by Loretta Reynolds, was removed from the door to the studio, and guests were invited inside. Inside they were greeted by incense and candlelight, and a range […]
Poems, ballads and limericks from Titikaveka
My Mama My mama is short My mama is healthy My mama is lovely My mama is funny too But I don’t care if people talk about her She is the love of my Life By Leahana Pareanga, Year Eight Country Roads Far and farther away Seemed it would never end The winding and turning […]
Mermaid Dance Band here for a ball
Frocks will be dusted off, party tiaras polished and dancing shoes laced up for this evening’s must attend event of the month – the red carpet Queen’s Jubilee Fire and Ice Ball. Presented and held at the BCA Art Gallery in the Beachcomber complex in Taputapuatea – the ball is a fundraiser event for the […]
Legends come to life at Avatea
After reading and learning about Cook Islands legends such as Katikatia, the creation of Nukuroa, Ati and the Momoke and the removal of Raemaru mountain to name a few – students retold the stories through dance and plays. It was an enjoyable and educational day for both students and parents. Thank you to Avatea School […]
Pearls gifted to Miss CI titleholders
The Pearl Lounge had three special pearls in store yesterday when Miss Cook Islands Teuira Napa, Maine Tapaeru Antonina Browne and Maine Purotu Kate Ngatokorua visited the Arorangi store. The three young women were at the store to accept gifts of pearl pendants from store owners Sophie and Gus Meyer – the parents of former […]
Te Uki Ou Ball next Saturday
Apii Te Uki Ou is calling on the community to ”dust off those dancing shoes and whip up a new glamour gown“ for their fundraising ball. The school is holding the BCA Art Gallery Queen’s Jubilee Fire and Ice Ball on Saturday June 16 at the BCA. Entertainment will feature local DJ G-Dub, and the […]
Healthy and affordable charcoal chicken
A tasty new option for eating out in Rarotonga has recently opened its doors. Rob’s Charcoal Chicken is tucked away in the Cooks Corner Complex – it’s easy to find, just follow the delicious smells of chicken cooking. The business is a family affair, owned and operated by Rob and Eileen McBride, with Rob the […]
Teuira Napa crowned
Teuira Napa was a picture of humble elegance on the national auditorium stage where she was crowned Miss Cook Islands 2012 on Thursday night. The Miss Cook Islands pageant drew a huge crowd to the national auditorium to support the eight Miss Cook Islands pageant contestants. The young Cook Islands women carried themselves with grace, […]
Jemimah takes charge!
Jemimah Tekena owned the stage in her Roman get-up and hip hop dance as the junior Miss Cook Islands non competing contestant on Thursday night. At just 17, Tekena was too young to join the pageant, however she was so keen to be part of the pageant experience that the pageant association felt it would […]