More Top Stories
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’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
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
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
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
National
Read, read, read
To be a writer, you need to read, read, read, says children’s book author Karen McMillan, who recently wrote Elastic Island Adventures: Rarotonga.
RMD ‘system error’ annoys taxpayer
A businessman in Rarotonga is annoyed with the Cook Islands tax department for a taxation blunder they’re calling a ‘system error’.
$300,000 in arrears : 47 businesses lag on Cook Islands Covid loan
Local businesses are nearly $300,000 behind on payments of the $6.9 million loan issued by the Cook Islands Government to support them during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic.
Cook Islands’ international profile soars with COP28 and Forum leadership: Brown
Cook Islands’ profile on the international stage has never been higher than it is today, says Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Accused nightclub brawlers adjourned to February
Two men alleged to have been involved in a massive brawl on Rarotonga last month have appeared in court.
Nightclub brawl accused remains in Cook Islands awaiting trial
One of eight visitors from Australia allegedly involved in a brawl at a Rarotonga nightclub will remain in the Cook Islands at least until February, 2024.
Level playing field concerns raised over ‘temporary’ Starlink licence
Government cannot restrict local Starlink users from accessing its services despite the provider yet to conclude consideration of a localised service product and corporate presence for the Cook Islands market.
From flycatchers to forests : How the Cook Islands are championing nature
Home to the Rarotonga flycatcher, Cook Islands fruit-dove and coconut crab, the 15 South Pacific islands that comprise the nation have a rich natural heritage. Around 60 per cent of the nation’s land is still covered by tropical forest, and its lagoons and seas have an abundance of diverse marine life.
Considering the 2023 Tainted Cryptocurrency : Recovery Bill Civil liberties, privacy and due process
This week the 2023 Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill was tabled in Parliament and referred to a select committee for consideration and report. Cook Islands crypto expert, Ano Tisam says the Bill, making its way through Parliament, raises some serious concerns about civil liberties, privacy and due process. Melina Etches reports.
Te Ipukarea Society: Deep seabed mining and the emerging risk to our tuna fisheries
Last week saw the Cook Islands host one of the most significant meetings with respect to the shared tuna stocks in the region.
Bail denied for man facing assault charges on two partners
A man facing more than a dozen charges related to assaults on two partners has been remanded in custody again following an application for bail.
Shrinking jury pool puts trial system under strain
There is scepticism among legal eagles about jury trials in the Cook Islands following the release of a judgement in an aborted case.
Woman pleads guilty to child assault in Court
A woman has pleaded guilty to assaulting a child.
New Aitutaki crane boosts cargo capacity
The Cook Islands Ports Authority’s new crane in Aitutaki will lift the current weight restriction of 20 tonne to 25 tonne, allowing importers and the people of the island to add more tonnage of goods to containers.
PAC chair Elikana demands transparency on public funds
The chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for stricter accountability and transparency in the use of public funds by government entities, state-owned enterprises, and Crown agencies.
MFAI offices to close for day as staff get time off following ‘heavy year’
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) offices will close on Monday as staff take the day off.
High growth, high prices: Economy bounces back, but inflation bites hard
Cook Islands’ resurgent economic growth post-Covid-19 has been overshadowed by an unprecedented surge in inflation, with prices rising by 13 per cent over the past year. Rashneel Kumar and Losirene Lacanivalu reports.
Green light for relief : Parliament passes medicinal cannabis import bill
Cook Islanders who require medicinal cannabis for their health’s wellbeing can now import or bring the item into the country, provided the product is being prescribed by an overseas medical practitioner.
Small school, big dreams: Rutaki celebrates success at annual awards
Apii Rutaki, the small school with a big heart out in the west, celebrated their school prize giving day with a vibrant occasion and a huge turnout of parents and family on Thursday.
Statistics attachment boosts Maritime’s data management
The Maritime Safety Authority databases will now be managed and used more effectively, thanks to upskilling attachment training within government agencies.
Browne struggles to get answers over $640,000 vessel charter
Opposition leader and Rakahanga MP Tina Browne has made little progress over the course of two days, in trying to get answers from Pukapuka MP Tingika Elikana about a $640,000 charter vessel which left Rarotonga on Wednesday bound for Pukapuka.
Parliament sets 42 sitting days for 2024 session
Cook Islands Parliament approved 42 sitting days for 2024 yesterday, having managed to meet just over half the number of days allocated for 2023.