More Top Stories
11 months jail for man caught smuggling 1.176kg of cannabis
13 August 2024
Helmet safety concerns raised amid enforcement challenges
2 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
STI cases on the rise
2 September 2024
Accused rapist admits to 47 charges, suppression lifted
31 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
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Tapaitau appeal dismissed
17 July 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
TB cases detected
1 June 2024
Man accused of raping minors face more charges
30 May 2024
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
16 May 2024
Solar power battery repairs ‘could take up to 12 months’
15 April 2024
Cook Islands poised for highest Pacific growth
29 April 2024
Regulator defends Starlink users
9 April 2024
National
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
The incidence rate of newly diagnosed mental health cases in the Cook Islands between 2021 and 2023 is nearly five per 1000 population, but a non-governmental organisation claims there are more cases than officially reported.
New council president pledges to drive tourism development
The newly appointed president of the Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council aims to further develop the tourism sector in the Cook Islands, building upon the progress made since the Covid-19 pandemic.
NZ donates equipment for airport security
The NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs donated two marked patrol vehicles and a sophisticated computer-based training system to Cook Islands Aviation Security this week. Murray Breeze, manager of quality systems development for the Pacific Islands at NZ Aviation Security Services (Avsec NZ), formally presented the gifts to airport security officers on Wednesday afternoon. He was […]
Police pleased
Police are pleased with how their emergency response centre handled the threat of cyclone Nisha. As the leading government agency in times of cyclones, police opened emergency hotlines for the public and continued to operate well after Nisha was declared a tropical depression. “The way everyone handled things was a big improvement in the whole […]
Foreign affairs and marine HoMs named
Former foreign affairs expert James Gosselin will return to head the ministry that he was once a part of. Gosselin was announced yesterday by prime minister Jim Marurai as the new secretary for foreign affairs and immigration. Gosselin is currently serving as regional trade policy advisor for the Commonwealth Secretariat and has been based at […]
Tourism industry wants more answers on new marketing body
The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council is meeting on Monday to discuss a controversial new government initiative – the destination sales and marketing committee. The committee is to provide marketing advice to the tourism board as well as communicate with the industry to gather more information on how to promote the destination. Industry council vice […]
Overseas driving advice
The driving licence issued by Cook Islands Police does not necessarily qualify holders to drive overseas, says police commissioner Maara Tetava. The regulatory office is in the practice of issuing letters to Cook Islanders planning to move overseas, reminding them to apply for an overseas licence. But those planning to drive while overseas on holiday […]
Does reform include letting go of Ivirua?
After reading about the radical political reforms proposed, one signaller says to push the proposal to combine some of the constituencies, it might help if the prime minister comes out and states that he is in favour of letting go of his Ivirua seat in Mangaia. “Wouldn’t it make more sense if we were to […]
Mou Piri response to political reform proposals
This is Mou Piri’s considered response and position on the specific political reforms proposed by the prime minister’s advisers: 1. PRIME MINISTER – Yes, Mou Piri supports the direct election of the Prime Minister by all Cook Island registered voters. Advantage: being elected by the people and not a political party will allow the PM […]
Airline story was wrong
Dear Editor, Your Smoke Signal under the heading ‘Flying high’ appeared to say that when the country tried to run our own airline in the 1980s it “lost millions – several Toagate worth per year”. The writer is wrong. I led the negotiations for a joint venture airline with Ansett and the formation of Cook […]
Strong enlightened leaders wanted
Dear Editor I wish to respond to a couple of issues raised by Piho Rua MP in Friday’s Cook Islands News. I write as one of the persons involved in putting forward to cabinet options for political reform. In the past three years I have been asked by cabinet to provide proposals for political reform […]
Harbour clears for cyclone
Boat owners worked round the clock yesterday to remove their vessels from Avatiu harbour in preparation for cyclone Nisha. While smaller fishing vessels were winched on to trailers and taken to higher ground, bigger charter boats had to be lifted out of the water by crane. That included the Ports Authority’s tug boat. Interisland trading […]
Most public servants let off work to prepare for cyclone
Prime minister Jim Marurai was still in his office yesterday afternoon but had sent his staff home after midday following news that cyclone Nisha had intensified and was continuing on its course towards Rarotonga. At 3pm he told CINews he had not ordered other ministers or government ministries to close early but several of them […]
Playing it safe
Schools were closed yesterday as the country remained on warning against cyclone Nisha. Ministry of education secretary Sharon Paio made the decision to have children remain at home after receiving an update from the met service early yesterday morning. “It’s a bit of an unknown, the situation can change, but I spoke to the met […]
Police on the alert and watch
Police are in emergency operation mode as cyclone Nisha is deep within Cook Islands territory. The meteorological service placed the country on warning late Wednesday afternoon triggering the police to activate the emergency operation centre in their headquarters. Officers have been designated to track Nisha’s path with each met service update, answer any inquiries the […]
Tourism tribute to Dean
The tourism industry council says CI Tourism CEO John Dean has advanced the work of the corporation in several key areas over the past 21 months. CINews asked the council to comment on Dean’s contribution to the industry following his resignation this month. The council says Dean brought a mature and pragmatic business approach to […]
Tourism council explains role of new marketing team
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe heads a new group of tourism industry members that will give marketing advice to government. The destination sales and marketing committee will provide advice to the tourism board. The group will also be responsible for communicating more with the industry on how to promote the destination. Tourism industry council (CITIC) […]
Licence plates switched on DPM's car
The licence plates on the ‘DPM’ plated car were illegally switched until two weeks ago when former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate returned the grey Honda Accord to the DPM office. Members of the public had noticed Sir Terepai still driving a government vehicle and CINews can now reveal that even though he was […]
Independent MP says PM is 'fooling' on reform
Rakahanga’s independent MP Piho Rua (above) says the prime minister is fooling the public on the proposed political reforms. “He [Jim Marurai] is saying things that are pretty difficult to achieve,” says Rua. “He knows that he has to go to parliament to achieve those reforms. But the way I see it, he is not […]
Offshore industry represented in US
Three offshore finance industry people are flying the Cook Islands flag in the United States this week. More than 2500 trusts and estates attorneys are in Orlando, Florida, for the 44th annual Heckerling Institute on estate planning. Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority chief executive Jenner Davis, who has attended previous Heckerling conferences, says it […]
Renovations to begin on Tupapa Nui
Renovations of the Tupapa Nui meeting house will kick off with a ceremony on Friday evening. Tupapa pu tapere George Matutu says the pure at 6pm will formally start the renovation programme heading towards the meeting house’s centenary in October. Matutu says the renovations will not involve huge changes to the main structure of the […]
More awards for Pacific Resort Aitutaki
Pacific Resort Aitutaki has been chosen as one of the Top 10 Luxury Resorts in the South Pacific and Top 10 Resorts for Romance in the South Pacific by the TripAdvisor website in its 2010 Travelers’ Choice awards. Now in its eighth year, the annual TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards honour the world’s best hotels, earning […]
« Previous 1 … 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 … 769 Next »