More Top Stories
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
National
Nukutere inducts 14 new prefects
Families, friends and loved ones of 14 Nukutere College students gathered together yesterday to celebrate their induction as newly-selected prefects for this academic year.
Te Ipukarea Society: ‘Embarrassing’ push from Cook Islands venture for deep sea mining regulation
Last week a group of eight deep seabed mining companies with exploration contracts in the Clarion Clipperton Zone (CCZ) sent a letter to the President of the International Seabed Authority.
'Paedophile' gets 13 years in prison
A 57-year-old man, labelled a paedophile by his lawyer, has been sentenced to 13 years and three months imprisonment for 47 charges of sexual offence, rape being the lead offence.
Two women rescue lost tourist after six-hour mountain search
A male tourist was safely rescued early Sunday morning after a six-hour search, having become lost during a mountain trek on Rarotonga.
Police investigate weekend incidents
A series of incidents were attended to by the Cook Islands Police Service over the weekend, including two motorbike crashes, menacing dogs and stolen money.
Telecom company celebrates anniversary with giveaways
Vodafone Cook Islands is celebrating its fifth birthday with a week of instore activities starting at 10am, featuring groovy sounds by popular local DJ GDub George Williams, enticing instore specials and sweet cupcakes.
Peñahermos achieves NCEA success despite challenges
Tereora College’s second-best student from 2024, Ferdane Peñahermos, is among those who made the cut in the NCEA exams, having passed all of his subjects following the release of the results last week.
‘Careless’ driver ordered to pay victims $10k and serve probation
A 45-year-old man was sentenced to 18 months of probation and ordered to pay over $10,000 in compensation to two motorcycle victims after being convicted of careless driving causing injury and refusing a breathalyser test.
66 per cent pass rate: NCEA Level 1 success rate lower than previous years
The preliminary 2024 NCEA results for the Cook Islands show a 66 per cent pass rate across all levels, with the Ministry of Education remaining silent on the Level 1 pass rate.
Cook Islands pastor dies in Australian floodwaters
The search for a man swept from a flooded causeway in northern New South Wales has ended, with his body discovered downstream.
TePOM expands services to address growing demand
Cook Islands men’s counselling centre Te Punanga Ora’anga Matutu (TePOM) is looking at another year of growth and aims to support more men and women through counselling and support services.
Road sealing and drainage works top Infrastructure’s 2025 agenda
The Ministry of Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) will prioritise road sealing and drainage works this year.
Bank to reissue debit cards following attempted fraudulent transactions
Bank of South Pacific (BSP) will be reissuing new Visa debit cards to its customers following a recent attempt of fraudulent transactions.
Government seeks funding boost for ‘critical priorities’
Government will be tabling a supplementary budget in Parliament next month, seeking a top up to the $328 million 2024/25 budget to fund ‘critical priorities’ in the remaining half of the financial year.
Vogel brings passion for education and culture to Apii Rutaki
Apii Rutaki is entering a new chapter with the appointment of Renall Vogel, from Matavera, as its new principal.
Police urge for community support following alleged knife-point robbery
Cook Islands Police Service is calling for community support following a concerning incident in which a Rarotonga resident was robbed at knife-point in front of an ATM at night.
Atiu cannabis cultivator remanded in custody pending psychiatric assessment
Chris-Mayne Paiere Mokoroa, the man arrested last week in Atiu for alleged cannabis cultivation, possession of cannabis, and possession of drug utensils, has been remanded into custody following a court appearance on Thursday.
Court briefs
A number of cases were heard before Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro on Thursday this week.
Cook Islander returns home to lead Aitutaki’s Araura College
James Kora, the newly appointed principal of Araura College in Aitutaki, is excited to return home to the Cook Islands after spending most of his life and career in New Zealand.
‘No longer dead Ministry’: Agriculture head Anguna-Kamana plots third term growth
In 2018, on her first day as Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Temarama Anguna-Kamana was told that this was a ‘dead ministry’. Now in her third term at the helm, Anguna-Kamana still sees potential in the agriculture sector and envisions leaving the industry in a much better position than she inherited.
Matavera’s new two storey commercial hub to open soon
In Matavera, the smallest district by land size on Rarotonga, a new two storey building “Te Waka” is set to redefine the local landscape with its mix of culinary delights, island apparel and commercial opportunities.
Driver ordered to pay over $11,500 in reparations after crash
Terea Ngatokorua Maruaau, who appeared in court yesterday, has been ordered to pay over $3000 in reparations to the Te Aponga Uira (TAU) after falling asleep while driving a rental vehicle and crashing into a power pole in Nikao last month.
