More Top Stories
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
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
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
PM: Hit-and-run investigation being conducted ‘thoroughly’
The investigation into the tragic hit-and-run that claimed the life of an elderly woman is being conducted “professionally and thoroughly”, Prime Minister Mark Brown told Cook Islands News last night.
Dream come true: Aspiring teachers join new training programme
A 15-member cohort of aspiring teachers was welcomed yesterday by the Ministry of Education officials, coinciding with the official opening of the Cook Islands Teacher Development Training Centre.
Cultural clash at FestPAC: Respected female carver excluded due to gender protocol
A respected female Cook Islands carver, Awhitia Tavioni, was excluded from the official carving area at the 13th Pacific Arts Festival and Culture in Hawai’i due to a local kapu (rule) against women carvers, sparking a debate about cultural protocols and gender equality.
Resort celebrates leadership milestone with staff graduation
In a testament to its commitment to nurturing talent and leadership, The Edgewater Resort and Spa recently held a graduation ceremony for 21 team members who successfully completed its 12-week Step Up Leadership Training Programme.
Takitumu Conservation Area becomes first OECM in Pacific
History was made in the Cook Islands on the International Biodiversity Day late last month as the world rallied around the theme “Be Part of the Plan” to reverse biodiversity loss and put nature on a path to recovery.
‘Come back home, Mangaia needs you’: Numangatini Tangitamaiti Ariki makes emotional plea at Bicentennial
Numangatini Ariki has made a humble plea with the visiting Mangaians to return home during the opening ceremony of the island’s Bicentennial Celebration on Saturday.
Apii Takitumu gets new drums thanks to Titikaveka College
Apii Takitumu was thrilled to receive a brand-new set of drums from Titikaveka College through Te Rito O Taku Peu Tupuna last month.
Not cold-blooded’: Stepfather claims self-defence in stabbing
The trial of a man accused of murdering his stepson in May last year began at the High Court in Avarua yesterday.
‘Strengthen our culture … Not cut and paste from New Zealand’
“Strengthen our culture” was the message of the 19-year-old Cook Islander Nicolea Mateariki at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) Young Pacific Leaders sessions in Honolulu, Hawai’i.
Cook Islands crafts fly off shelves at FestPAC, weavers replenish stocks
The Cook Islands huts at the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) are proving popular, with most crafts selling out on Friday, the first day of the Festival Village at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center in Honolulu.
Cook Islands pushes for climate-resistant crops research
Secretary for Agriculture Temarama Anguna-Kamana presented a regional research agenda at the recent 9th Pacific Heads of Agriculture and Forestry Services (PHOAFS) meeting focusing on identifying and promoting crops that are climate resistant.
Lawyer to appeal conviction in fatal motorcycle crash
The lawyer for the man convicted of charges related to a fatal motorcycle crash last year has confirmed they will file an appeal after his sentencing.
Fertiliser arrives after long wait, but at a higher cost
The Ministry of Agriculture has received a shipment of fertilizer to address the shortage faced by farmers, but the cost has increased by $10 per 20-kilogram bag.
Mangaia’s Bicentennial Celebration opens with grand ceremony
Mangaia came to a standstill on Saturday for the historic Bicentennial Celebration’s opening ceremony, marking 200 years of Christianity on the island.
Mangaia triples in size: Island gears up to feed 1000 visitors for Bicentennial Celebration
A celebratory atmosphere fills Mangaia as hundreds arrive for the long-awaited Bicentennial Celebration kicking off today with the official opening ceremony.
Carrying on Jack Cooper’s legacy
Bound by a love for Rarotonga and a chance encounter with a dog named Lulu, the new owners of Trader Jacks aim to uphold the legacy of its founder, the late Jack Cooper.
Te Ipukarea Society: World Oceans Day, By mining the depths, we undermine our future
We are well aware of the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) recent community awareness raising campaigns to diverse groups across Rarotonga on the benefits of deep seabed mining (DSM). However, their presentations have barely touched on the potential risks of this industry.
Cook Islands and Honolulu sign sister city agreement, eyeing tourism boost
Prime Minister Mark Brown yesterday signed an agreement to establish a ‘sister-city relationship’ between Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and Honolulu, Hawaii, in the hope of building a stronger partnership and growth in inbound visitor numbers from Honolulu and the United States.
Breast cancer survivor calls for more awareness efforts
A breast cancer survivor believes there is a lack of breast cancer awareness in the Cook Islands and says it’s a topic that must be talked about.
Grant supports Te Puna Marama’s mission to empower youth through voyaging
Te Puna Marama Voyaging Foundation is committed to educating young people about the traditional navigation techniques and wayfinding methods practiced by our ancestors.
Elderly driver injured in road rage assault
An elderly driver sustained a serious facial injury after being allegedly assaulted by another driver in a road rage incident on Wednesday afternoon.
Jury finds driver guilty in fatal motorcycle crash
A man accused of driving dangerously resulting in the death of a 24-year-old in 2023 has been found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Avarua.