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
Community responds to Government’s calls for partnership
Following the announcement of the launch of the Rarotonga Safety Shelter Programme (RSSP), communities around Rarotonga are actively engaging with the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) to learn more about the programme.
Back-to-back cruise ship visits boost Rarotonga tourism
Within 48 hours, two cruise ships – the Zuiderdam, which visited on Saturday, and the Costa Deliziosa, which arrived yesterday – called at Rarotonga.
Sine die adjournment causes a stir
Friday 14: Parliament adjourned sine die yesterday after sitting for just three hours. Some MPs were disappointed that they had been called to the sitting for the re-introduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill and it was pulled from the agenda at the last minute. Then after just an hour of sitting, acting justice minister Tangata […]
3 earthquakes
Wednesday 19: Three earthquakes have struck south of Fiji this week but no repercussions are expected for the Cook Islands. According to the US Geographical Survey Centre, the first quake had a magnitude of 4.4 and occurred on Sundayat 1.38pm (CI time). It had a focal depth of 551.3 kilometres and was 70 kilometres south […]
Second Tahiti Nui charter planned
Friday 14: Deputy prime minister and finance minister Sir Terepai Maoate will travel to French Polynesia tomorrow to finalise the charter of the government-owned ship Tahiti Nui to transport northern group islanders to the Maeva Nui celebrations next month. He made the announcement of his mission in parliament yesterday after Rakahanga MP Piho Rua said […]
Police investigate 14 new burglaries
Tuesday 18: Money, cigarettes and mobile phones were amongst items taken in some of the 14 burglaries reported to police in the week to August 16. Inspector Arama Tera says that the public should take extra care in locking up their houses and accommodation units, as well as keeping valuables out of sight or in […]
Constitutional amendment passed
Friday 14: A constitutional amendment was passed yesterday to amend the set up of the Cook Islands Court of Appeal, its membership and how its judges are appointed. One of the main changes is that the high court will now be able to be held outside of the Cook Islands in special circumstances such as […]
Internet problem
Tuesday 18: Telecom Cook Islands’ residential broadband users may have noticed slower internet speed yesterday. This is due to one of the two internet circuits being out of service due to an equipment fault. The faulty circuit accounts for 30 percent of total internet capacity. Telecom identified the fault early yesterday morning. TCI says there […]
Mental health a low priority
Thursday 13: The low priority given to mental health in the Pacific means that specialised mental health care is sorely inadequate in the region, says a mental health adviser. Margaret Eastgate, regional youth and mental health project coordinator at the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International, made this statement when she addressed […]
Prison system irresponsible – Glassie
Tuesday 18: Opposition MP Nandi Glassie says the minister of justice must be made responsible for action on penal reform. Glassie describes the current prison system as ‘loose and irresponsible’. He is among a growing number of local people fed up with the management of the prison and the penal system’s failures. Glassie says the […]
Ex-principal ready for new role
Thursday 13: New secretary of education Sharyn Paio has been on the job for just five days and is optimistic about what she can achieve during her three-year term for the future of education. Paio says the ministry must now widen its horizons and have a strategic approach to implementing the new education master plan. […]
It's all been said before!
Monday 17: The Arorangi Prison was completed in August 1954 and the first inmates entered the facility on September 14, 1954. Apart from the more recent addition of the female quarters, little or no renovations have taken place since. The main prison is in many areas falling to bits. It is long past time that […]
Parliament resumes for 2 bills
Thursday 13: Parliament is due to sit again from today, primarily for the reintroduction of the Seabed Minerals Bill which has been under select committee review for the past few months. The bill is seen as one of the most important in terms of new law this year as once it comes into force as […]
12 reports since 1976
Monday 17: Penal reform campaigner Gordon Sawtell believes now is the time to deal with problems and conditions at the national jail. He contributed this article at the weekend with the closing comment that we need at all costs to ensure proper containment of prison inmates especially during the Pacific Mini Games to avoid a […]
Bishop says new budget irresponsible
Thursday 13: Aitutaki MP Teina Bishop claims that the budget that has been put together by government is “fiscally irresponsible”. “This budget is nothing but loans and aid – $30 million is in foreign aid,” says Bishop “When I first read the budget, I thought the total appropriation [of $215,537,534] was a typing error. We […]
Behind the Arorangi jail walls
Monday 17: Cook Islands News was allowed behind the doors of Arorangi prison last week. Organised by the secretary of justice Mark Short, along with the acting minister of justice Robert Wigmore, the tour was to expose the conditions housing 37 male prisoners. Among the problems with facilities at the correction institution are corroding bars, […]
Maori King visits for Maeva Nui
Thursday 13: New Zealand Maori king Te Arikinui Tuheitia Paki and his family will arrive on September 13 for a week-long visit to Rarotonga for Maeva Nui celebrations. The Cook Islands government will spend $25,908 to cover the king’s accommodation, meals and transport for the first half of his stay. Cabinet approved the payment on […]
Opera singer returns
Monday 17: One of New Zealand’s foremost professional sopranos, Gina Sanders will return to Rarotonga in September for her fourth trip to the island. Jillian Sobieska, who is a friend of the singer, is excited about Sanders return and says that plans are being put together for an opera evening in September. Sanders last visited […]
Finsec wants performance bonus
Thursday 13: Financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti is among more than 20 senior public servants including other HOMs who are now looking for performance bonuses. Ivaiti is understood to be claiming he should get the maximum 5 percent (of salary) bonus for ‘exceptional performance’ for the year. Since Ivaiti, the highest paid public servant, is on […]
Design starts for Mauke and Mitaro harbours
Monday 17: BECA International has been awarded the NZAID/AusAID funded contract to design the upgrade of Mauke and Mitiaro harbours. New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Tia Barrett made the announcement this week. “The awarding of the contract to design the upgrade of Taunganui and Omutu harbours is an important first step in […]
Renewed call for prison reform
Saturday 15: Gordon Sawtell, who has past experience in prison administration, has proposed a commission of inquiry be launched on the national prison and its conditions. He met with new secretary of justice Mark Short yesterday to offer his services if a commission is set up following the recent escape of two inmates who claimed […]
Jail tour shows conditions
Saturday 15: New justice secretary Mark Short opens prison gates for inspection The doors of Arorangi prison were opened yesterday to the acting minister of justice and media. A tour was organised by the new secretary of justice Mark Short in order for people to see why he had been outspoken about the state of […]
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