More Top Stories
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16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
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10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
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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
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
National
Cook Islands women unite for healthy, happy and safe homes
More than 60 women dressed in vibrant colours gathered for the launch of the Vaine Tini o te Kuki Airani/Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) three day “uikaraurau” summit at Highland Paradise, the 600-year-old village site that was home to Puaikura’s Tinomana tribe.
Empty shelves and high prices: Pa Enua residents turn to land and sea amidst shipping delays
The residents of a Southern Group Island continue to endure ongoing hardships due to inconsistent shipping, driving up costs and forcing reliance on subsistence living, while awaiting government-promised shipping improvements.
PAC urges transparency in boating investigations
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that the Ministry of Transport be transparent in its investigations of serious boating incidents and that the lack of technical staff has impacted its ability to monitor and enforce shipping regulations.
Government sees seabed mining as economic game-changer
Cook Islands government has revealed that it sees greater economic potential in seabed mining, which has fuelled concerns from the Opposition.
Public Accounts Committee recommends seed fund for Pa Enua tourism
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that Cook Islands Tourism encourage and pioneer a debt or equity fund designed to provide seed investment for Pa Enua tourism projects.
Team Rakahanga sweeps aquatics medals at Cook Islands Games
The aquatics events, held over a three-day race, were the first of the Cook Islands Games’ sports to conclude with Team Rakahanga waving their flag with pride as they dominated several categories.
Training and partnerships boost Mauke’s tourism potential
Cook Islands Tourism aims to develop sustainable tourism on Mauke by implementing projects like storyboards, homestays and historical site preservation, with strong support from the local government and community.
Lewis defends Ministry of Education appointment
Secretary of Education Owen Lewis has defended the appointment of an executive director, saying that the role was established in 2014 and had been vacant, and dismissed claims that the position duplicated his own.
Motorcyclist ‘wearing bicycle helmet’ injured after accident
Motorcyclists must follow the law, wear the correct type of helmet and have it properly strapped on, says Brent Fisher, president of the Cook Islands Road Safety Council.
Te Marae Ora health ministry warns of flesh-eating bacteria
Cook Islands has not reported any cases of flesh-eating bacteria, but Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health is advising the public to practice good hygiene, clean wounds thoroughly, and keep them covered with clean, dry bandages until healed.
First major cocaine case results in imprisonment
A New Zealand-based Cook Islander was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment for bringing cocaine and cannabis into the country in the first significant case of its kind.
Man disqualified for 18 months after third drunk driving charge
A man with a history of driving related charges in the Cook Islands High Court has been disqualified from driving for 18 months.
Public Accounts Committee calls for transparency in CIIC budget process
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has advised the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) to disclose all anticipated income during the budget process and to Parliament.
BRO CHECK campaign: ‘Reach out, you’re not alone’
Recognising that young Cook Islands men are struggling with various issues, Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health recently launched their “BRO CHECK #youmatter” awareness campaign.
Tenants face water bill burden
Rarotonga rental tenants who do not have a water connection registered in their name will not be eligible for the government’s free water subsidy.
Kiwi lawyer brings Māori land law expertise to Cook Islands
A New Zealand lawyer is hoping to apply his expertise in Māori land law, the Treaty of Waitangi and constitutional issues to assist in resolving similar challenges faced in the Cook Islands.
Racy Raro sports car has new life in New Zealand
A high-powered Mazda RX7 sports car which once languished in a shed near the beach in Rarotonga has found a new life in New Zealand as a drag racer, driven by a former Tereora College pupil.
PAC report criticises former Culture secretary’s financial oversight
The former secretary for the Ministry of Cultural Development “did not ensure” that there were strong controls in place and that careful judgment was applied when authorising six financial transactions of more than $12,000 of taxpayers’ money, states the recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report.
Minister Mokoroa defends Brisbane trip, emphasises youth commitment
Minister Vaine “Mac” Mokoroa has defended his recent trip to Brisbane, Australia, to attend a church youth conference, emphasising the government’s commitment to Cook Islands youth.
Deep Ocean symposium free to locals
Te Puna Vai Marama, the Cook Islands Centre for Research, and Te Ipukarea Society are co-hosting a research symposium focussed on the deep sea at the end of this month.
Environmentalists slam ‘premature’ seabed minerals harvesting regulations
Cook Islands has enacted seabed minerals harvesting regulations despite concerns about the lack of ‘meaningful consultation’ and the premature nature of the legislation, given that the exploration phase is still ongoing.
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
The Public Accounts Committee is concerned with the Minister for Corrective Services’ authority to ‘influence or directly manage’ the release of inmates from prison, while the Minister denies these claims and maintains that all work release protocols are being followed.