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
Public urged to avoid swimming amid high seas and strong winds
The Director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Office, Maara Vaiimene, is urging the public, especially children, to stay out of the water due to the dangerous ocean conditions brought on by Tropical Disturbance TD03F.
TTV welcomes rainfall, urges for water conservation
The recent rainfall across the Cook Islands has been a blessing for water supply levels, particularly in Rarotonga, as it provided much-needed relief during the festive period.
Pacific Forum dates confirmed
The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat has confirmed dates for this year’s Pacific Leaders Forum. Secretariat secretary-general Tuiloma Neroni Slade told Cook Islands News earlier this month that dates had been finalised but that out of courtesy to Pacific leaders, his office would not release details to media until all participating countries had been notified. This […]
Te Kopapa Reo re-formed
In celebration of International Mother Language Day, culture minister Teariki Heather yesterday revived the dormant Te Kopapa Reo, or Te Reo Maori Commission. Heather formally re-appointed the former members of the commission, which for four years has been inactive. The commission was initially set up under the Te Reo Maori Act, which government passed in […]
Govt to develop marine resources in north
Opposition Leader Wilkie Rasmussen raised the first question in yesterday’s session of Parliament, opening by joking that usually “independent pro-CIP member” Norman George is the first to rise. Given George’s absence from the House, Rasmussen said he would “reluctantly” do the honours instead. In a question to minister of marine resources Teina Bishop, he sought […]
Claims of irresponsible spending 'unfounded'
Finance minister Mark Brown defended the supplementary budget yesterday in Parliament, accusing the opposition of making ‘gross overstatements’ in its criticism of the Appropriation Amendment bill. “Under the laws of the MFEM Act this budget that we are presenting is a responsible budget. It’s responsible because we are not making any rash decisions. “Those areas […]
New leader gets official nod
Wilkie Rasmussen has been officially confirmed as the new Leader of the Opposition following Monday’s announcement that he will take over the role from Robert Wigmore, says Democratic Party President Sean Willis. This was formalised through a party caucus agreement this week and announced on Monday at the opening of parliament for 2012. Willis said […]
Opposition calls budget 'irresponsible'
Nukuroa MP Tangata Vavia called last year’s budget ‘irresponsible’ in Parliament yesterday. Directing a question to finance minister Mark Brown, Vavia raised the issue of government’s withholding tax, which was imposed in an effort to generate $1 million in revenue. “After looking through the supplementary budget and the revenue on behalf of the crown, it […]
Fence to 'keep stormin Norman' out
In jest cabinet minister Teina Bishop raised concerns in Parliament about something that has been ‘bugging’ him for ‘many months’. He noted that in past years, the opposition office has been open ‘at any time’ and that market-goers have been ‘most welcome’ to park at the opposition office on Saturday mornings. “Now I see there’s […]
'Spend money to make money'
In defence of the $2.5 million budget deficit, cabinet minister Teina Bishop says the country has to spend money to make money. “I stand to support the supplementary budget before the house,” he said in parliament yesterday. “Despite the fact that it is a deficit budget to me from an economic point of view, it […]
More global action against financial crimes
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global standard-setter in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, has revised its recommendations booklet after more than two years of efforts by member countries. The FATF is an intergovernmental organisation with 36 members and the participation of over 180 countries through a global network of FATF-style […]
SPC celebrates 65th birthday
The Secretariat of the Pacific (SPC) community recently celebrated its 65th birthday. “The SPC mission is to help the Pacific Island people respond effectively to the challenges they face, and make informed decisions about their future and the future they wish to leave for the generations to follow,” SPC director general Dr Jimmie Rodgers said. […]
Leader confirms 'it will be torrid'
Tongareva member of parliament Wilkie Rasmussen says that as the leader of the opposition he will “stand up and fight for what matters”. “I believe the opposition team is going to be up to the game, they going to stand up and fight”, he said, noting that the opposition will focus on “matters that need […]
Air NZ subsidy not fair: George
Opposition MP Norman George questioned the fairness of the government’s $4.5 million Air New Zealand subsidy as the Budget began its second reading in parliament yesterday. “Are we sharing the profits of this route to North America? I don’t understand that we share in the costs of this but not the income.” This follows statements […]
Govt accused of 'free spending'
Opposition Leader Wilkie Rasmussen denounced the Appropriation Amendment Bill – or the supplementary budget – in Parliament yesterday. He accused the government of being a ‘free-spending government’ and alleged that the deficit could have been avoided. “If this governmentdoesn’t change direction and doesn’t wisen up and utilise assistance from overseas or donor countries and divert […]
Island Feast comes to the Cooks!
The flavours and curiosities of Cook Islands cuisine will be introduced to an estimated 50 million people in 100 countries though Australian celebrity chef Peter Kuruvita. The chef and a five-man film team have just returned to Australia from the Cook Islands as the final destination for Kuruvita’s upcoming television series Island Feast with Peter […]
Govt 'not running to big daddy'
Finance minister Mark Brown says his government will ‘deal with’ the budget blowout rather than running to the New Zealand government for help. He was responding to a question from Teenui-Mapumai member of parliament Norman George – the first parliamentary question of the year. “Minister,” George said, “in view of the additional $4 million that […]
CISNOC 'decrepit, failed, corrupt'
Two members of parliament yesterday challenged the supplementary budget’s $30,000 allocation to CISNOC to cover its operating costs. Teenui-Mapumai member of parliament Norman George called CISNOC a ‘decrepit, failed, corrupt organisation’. “Because of their record of mismanagement I have great difficulty supporting any allocation of funds for them and my message to the minister of […]
Costs of flights 'part of the territory'
It would be a terrible shame for the Cook Islands to lose its direct links with the United States and Australia and the government should make sure those links are secure in order to best assist growth in the local tourism industry, according to Pacific Resort chief executive officer Greg Stanaway. Stanaway said removing the […]
Suicide forum planners meet today
A government committee will today meet to settle on how it can best spend $30,000 in funding it secured to host a youth conference on suicide. The money is predominantly going towards bringing in youth from the pa enua to Rarotonga to join the March 12 forum. The exact details of who will come and […]
Media explores suicide reporting
The Cook Islands Media Association has begun exploring the ways in which journalists can portray suicide appropriately in news reports. The association met yesterday to discuss a range of issues, although the media’s coverage of suicide dominated its agenda. The meeting brought together freelance journalists, government communication advisors and staff from Cook Islands News, 88FM […]
McCully inspects Forum Leaders venues
A New Zealand government delegation that included Foreign Minister Murray McCully has returned home impressed with the Cook Islands’ progress in preparing for the Pacific Islands Forum, according to High Commissioner John Carter. Carter said the two-day stopover was useful for the New Zealand government, which used the opportunity to examine New Zealand Aid Programme […]
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