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
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
Open Day on the French monitoring frigate Prairial
The French flagship vessel in the Pacific, the monitoring frigate “Prairial” is visiting Rarotonga for three days.
Decline in reo Māori speakers addressed in Parliament
Minister for Education, Vaine ‘Mac’ Mokoroa has acknowledged that while language is important in the classrooms, it is also vital to remember that speaking reo Maori starts from home.
Female tattoo artist finds success close to home
Cook Islands female artists are thriving in the tattoo industry after overcoming several challenges over the years in what might be perceived as a male-dominated field, particularly in Polynesian culture.
Environment concerns halt hydro energy project at Sheraton redevelopment
National Environment Service (NES) has stopped work on a redevelopment project at the old ‘Sheraton Hotel’ site until an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is completed.
Kiwi’s 63rd Rarotonga return
An 82-year-old New Zealander is visiting Rarotonga for the 63rd time after falling deeply in love with the island during an accidental visit in the 1970s.
AGM to elect new executives for Tourism Industry Council
New executive members for the 2024-25 financial year will be elected at the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council annual general meeting on Wednesday.
INTAFF holds consultations to update disability, aging plans
There are concerns for older persons who do not have family members to care for them and the lack of support for caregivers who are looking after family members in their homes.
Cook Islands enhances climate transparency with training
Climate Change Cook Islands staff participated in a weeklong Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency – Global Support Programme (CBIT-GSP) training workshop at the New Hope Church last week.
Prime Minister Brown committed to New Caledonia mission
Prime Minister Mark Brown is committed and looking forward to partake in the high-level Pacific Islands Forum Troika-led mission to New Caledonia.
TTV recommends drastic cut to proposed free water allocation
The Rarotonga water agency has slashed the Government’s proposed free water allocation by 75 per cent, recommending a daily limit of just 100 litres per person.
Pacific’s first: A doctorate and a deeper connection to home
When Cook Islander Dr Antony Vavia walked off the stage earlier this month with a piece of paper he had worked hard for six years, he achieved more than just becoming the first Pacific Islander to earn a doctoral degree in marine biology from Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Te Ipukarea Society: Cook Islands Seabed Mining Regulations premature
Te Ipukarea Society urges the Cook Islands Government to delay the adoption of seabed minerals mining regulations due to insufficient scientific information and the ongoing negotiations at the International Seabed Authority.
Cook Islands MPs claim $200,000 in allowances during overseas trips
Cook Islands Members of Parliament claimed over $200,000 in allowances while representing the country at international meetings and events during the 2023/24 financial year.
New mayors confirmed in Southern Group islands
The 2024 Island Government Election final count was revealed this week by the Elections Office, and the new mayors who had led in the preliminary count were declared the winners.
Court briefs
Justice of the Peace Vania Kenning presided over a number of matters at the Criminal Court in Avarua on Thursday.
Cook Islands ‘not invited’ to CHOGM
Cook Islands will not be attending the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa because the country has not been invited, and efforts to gain membership are ongoing.
Nine candidates vie for CINSF members’ representative role
Nine candidates are vying for the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund (CINSF) members’ representative position on the Board for the next three-year term.
Brown set to hand over Forum chair, focuses on local economy
Prime Minister Mark Brown, the outgoing chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, is delighted to officially hand over the chairmanship of the region’s political decision-making body to his successor, the Prime Minister of Tonga, at the 53rd Leaders Meeting next week.
Avarua burglary duo remanded, potential for additional charges
The two men alleged to have been accomplices in the recent break-ins reported around Avarua have been remanded in custody and are likely to face more charges.
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
Prime Minister Mark Brown has defended the over $650,000 spent on MPs travel and allowance and responded to Opposition leader Tina Browne’s criticism by accusing her of preferring to ‘hog all the trips for herself’.
Cultural exchange fosters connections between Cook Islands and Hawai’i
A delegation from environmental non-governmental organisation Kōrero o te 'Ōrau’s 'Ātui'anga ki te Tango (AKTT) young ambassadors have returned from an enriching successful cultural exchange experience in Hawai’i.
Man hit with hefty fines for drink driving and assault
A 33-year-old man has been sentenced and ordered to pay reparations of $4259.12 to electricity company Te Aponga Uira and around $700 in court fines and court costs for three separate charges.