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
Aircraft back in air after repair
The Hawaiian airline’s Airbus A321, which was grounded for almost two weeks, is finally back in the air and has returned to service after undergoing repairs.
Schools umu competition hailed a success, set to become annual fixture
The traditional slow steam cooking event not only retains nutrients and enhances taste, it brings together family, friends and the community, nurturing a sense of belonging and celebration while preparing and sharing a meal of soul food.
Aitutaki café tender called for
Wednesday 8: Tenders are being called for the airport café in Aitutaki. Airport Authority’s commercial, operations and quality assurance manager, Mark Vaikai, says the tender calls for the set up of a café on the same premises vacated by the previous operator who closed last week. “The primary intent of having the café in the […]
Joint venture not final
Monday 6: Pacific Mini Games 2009 Ltd and World Youth Netball Championships 2009 Ltd – the companies organising this year’s two big sports events – are near to finalising a joint venture agreement. Games minister Wilkie Rasmussen says that there have been difficulties in finalising the agreement, especially in the areas of sponsorship, marketing and […]
7 MPs want seat declared vacant
Thursday 2: The seven Opposition Cook Islands Party members of parliament are calling for the Pukapuka-Nassau seat to be declared vacant. This is the substance of the letter delivered to the speaker Mapu Taia yesterday by opposition leader Tom Marsters and deputy leader Teina Bishop. The letter calls on the speaker to declare the Pukapuka-Nassau […]
Crowning glory
Monday 6: Gorgeous girls, a dazzling show Anyone who bought a ticket for the Miss Cook Islands pageant on Friday night would have got their money’s worth. The six-hour show was jammed-packed with stunning dresses, gorgeous girls and extraordinary performances. The night was set to be special right from the opening number with Janet Dearlove […]
Roadside cleaning tenderers helped with process
Wednesday 8: Having a good tender proposal is the key to winning or losing a contract. This was just one of the messages given to prospective contractors for road and drainage cleaning in Te Au O Tonga at a meeting yesterday. “Putting in a good tender proposal is crucial,” said consultant Patrick Arioka during the […]
Games concerns outlined in letter
Monday 6: ‘Mini’ must be added to the 2009 Pacific Mini Games logo The Pacific Games Council says it requires certain reassurances that various steps will be taken by mini games organisers, or it would place the future of the games at “serious risk”. In his letter of March 19 to games minister Wilkie Rasmussen, […]
Peua under opposition fire
Thursday 2: Pukapuka/Nassau Independent MP Vai Peua came under heavy fire from Opposition CIP members during parliament’s question time yesterday. The first day of the sitting this month saw Peua defending his recent agreement with the Democratic Party and its leader Sir Terepai Maoate. Speaker of the house Mapu Taia had announced to parliament that […]
Rasmussen addresses the ACP-EU assembly
Wednesday 8: The global economic crisis was at the fore of foreign Affairs minister Wilkie Rasmussen’s address to the opening of the 17th session of the ACP-EU joint parliamentary assembly in Prague, Czech Republic, early this week. Rasmussen also touched on the importance of political will to confront global challenges and the role of developing […]
Minister in Prague
Saturday 4: Cabinet minister Wilkie Rasmussen and foreign affairs secretary Mike Mitchell are in Prague, Czech Republic, attending the 17th session of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly this week. They are due back in the country on April 11. Travel and accommodation costs are covered by the assembly. -HG
Volunteers wanted!
Monday 6: Become a ‘sign post’ for the country 2009 Pacific Mini Games front man Tua Pittman says the event is not only an opportunity for our sportspeople to shine, but also a chance for us all to showcase what makes our island nation so special and unique. One way to showcase your passion for […]
Atiu war memorial monument built
Wednesday 8: Years of hoping and dreaming paid off last month when Atiu completed a war monument or cenotaph to remember the Atiuans who served during the 1914-18 and the 1940-45 conflicts as well as later years. Their efforts and service to King and country can now be recognised and commemorated for years to come. […]
Travel costs disclosed in part
Saturday 4: Infrastructure and Planning ministry secretary Taukea Raui had no problem when contacted this week in revealing that government spent $2058 on his recent trip as part of a delegation to Wellington. Raui says the ministry paid the amount for his four days in New Zealand as part of the four member delegation which […]
Increasing capacity
Wednesday 8: Air New Zealand has announced capacity upgrades on its Auckland-Rarotonga-Auckland route from May to October. A number of A320 airbuses will be replaced with B767 and B777 aircraft adding up to an extra 2854 seats over the six month period. Air NZ Cook Islands manager David Bridge said the airline was pleased to […]
Tax concession explained
Saturday 4: The 200 percent tax concession for sponsors of the Pacific Mini Games and the World Youth Netball Championships will apply to all those who spend over $50,000 on supporting the events. This week financial secretary Sholan Ivaiti explained just how it will work in response to CINews questions. The conditions of the tax […]
Shortland Street extras meet actors
Wednesday 1: Locals involved in the production of a Shortland Street episode being shot here were kept busy yesterday as they tackled some of the 22 scenes for the show this week. South Pacific Pictures’ Shortland Street publicist Rachel Keereweer took Cook Islands News on a bit of a tour of the set for one […]
Aitutaki promotion could bring over 500
Saturday 28 March: A $50,000 initiative by CI Tourism to promote Aitutaki and get 500 extra people on the island from March to June is working so well that it is likely to bring many more visitors. Island Hopper’s Stephen Doherty addressed yesterday’s meeting between the Aitutaki tourism industry and tourism minister Wilkie Rasmussen, saying […]
Northern islands back on line
Wednesday 1: Four northern islands were unable to receive or make phone calls on Monday. In a media statement released yesterday, Telecom Cook Islands says the problem occurred during the changeover from the NSS-5 satellite to the new NSS-9 satellite that took place on Monday afternoon. “Unfortunately with the islands of Pukapuka, Nassau, Palmerston and […]
Queen's all for it
Friday 27 March: Manarangi Tutai Ariki says she is all for Sunday flights to Aitutaki continuing, without the need for a referendum. Queen Manarangi, as she is known, is an ex-officio member of the island council and the woman who runs Gina’s Garden Lodges and Gina’s Akaiami Beach Lodge. She expressed her views at the […]
Maina Traders avoids winding-up petition
Wednesday 1: The petition to the high court for the wind-up of Aitutaki MP and associate finance minister Terepai Maoate Jnr’s business Maina Traders is set to be withdrawn following payment of the amount owing to one of its creditors. The petition was filed by Raro Aircon Ltd on March 19 and was due to […]
Demos welcome minister's visit
Friday 27 March: Aitutaki DemocraticParty executives who met with minister Wilkie Rasmussen welcomed his friendly approach yesterday. The minister, who is also the deputy leader of the Democratic Party, met with the executives who have been raising concerns about Sunday flights. Some of them are also proudly protesting the flights eight months from when they […]