Entertainment
Miss Cook Islands will equip me 'to serve my people better'
Tuesday 17 September 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
As a McConnell Dowell site engineer, Maruia Willie isn’t entering Miss Cook Islands for endorsement of her beauty. It’s a chance to build networks to better serve her people. Maruia Willie felt blessed to have both her grandmothers Mereana Tangata and Tepaeru Willie stand alongside her on stage for 2019 Miss Cook Islands reveal night on Saturday.
From dust to digital
Monday 16 September 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Sixty-two years, and nobody ever told him. Dr Ranginui Fariu was genuinely surprised to learn he had featured in a Tereora College school photo published in the first existing edition of Cook Islands News, in 1957 shortly after the paper first launched.
Cook Islands issues AC/DC coins – but don't expect to spend them
Monday 16 September 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Entertainment
A coin broker has issued a pair of commemorative Cook Islands coins to honour two classic AC/DC albums.
Jamaica v Raro: The reggae test
Saturday 14 September 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Entertainment
Are you a party animal? Or one of those who love dancing to Charly Black’s reggae songs?
'I was told I didn't have The Look'
Saturday 7 September 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Entertainment
Vivian Engu says in order to be a model, she had to learn to handle the cruel criticism. “I still remember my first audition like it was yesterday,” says Vivian Engu.
Herbal remedy: Songs of Freedom coming to movies
Sunday 1 September 2019 | Published in Entertainment
A new movie tells the story of how a diverse bunch of islands reggae musicians helped bring peace to the Pacific.
Fia in debut open-air concert
Monday 26 August 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Entertainment
‘Love me’ – that’s the message from RnB star Fia Esene’s award-winning hit single, as he prepares to win the hearts of Cook Islands fan in an outdoor concert next month.
Save the last dance for me
Friday 23 August 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Those keen on old-fashioned island waltz dances to a live band are in for a treat with the Marua’ia’i competition tomorrow.
Wolves howling at Raro moon
Saturday 17 August 2019 | Published in Entertainment
Liam Ratana is surprised to discover his inner soul-Americana-folk fan, as he meets Albi and the Wolves ahead of tonight’s final show in the Cook Islands.
'The Rock' stuntman visits
Saturday 17 August 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Hollywood stuntman Tanoai Reed could be mistaken for action star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson – after all, he stands in for the actor in his most dangerous moves.
entertainment: 'Take pride in your body'
Saturday 10 August 2019 | Published in Entertainment
It’s a mild evening in Rarotonga and dozens of people are lined up outside the Empire Cinema in downtown Avarua, waiting to find their seats at the second annual Te Kuki ’Airani Film Festival this week.
Two wars, two films, one fight
Saturday 3 August 2019 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Entertainment
When director Taika Waititi wanted to harden up six young actors to play members of the 28th Maori Battalion, he enlisted them in basic training at New Zealand’s Trentham Army Camp.
Kids and the Lion King
Saturday 20 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Never mind what the grown-up critics have to say, the real judges of the new Lion King will be the kids, these school holidays.
Kingston – it's about the energy
Wednesday 3 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Sean Kingston’s first impression of Rarotonga is that it feels ‘amazing’.
Pop star lives up to his rap
Tuesday 2 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Jamaican-American teen pop icon Sean Kingston sings his hit, ‘We like to sleep all day and party all night! This is how we like to live our life!’
Film festival celebrates women's strength
Saturday 29 June 2019 | Published in Entertainment
Acclaimed Cook Islands film director Miria George portrays a young woman making a stand against over-fishing on Rarotonga.
Special one-off Rocketman screening
Thursday 27 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Entertainment
The Empire Cinema is bringing back the Elton John movie for one special screening tonight. The Cook Islands Censor had controversially announced he would be banning it from public exhibition because of gay sex scenes.
Rocketman ban would be victory for 'mob rule'
Tuesday 18 June 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment
Cook Islands’ international reputation will continue to hang in the balance until the secretary of Internal Affairs returns to Rarotonga to decide whether to confirm the Rocketman movie ban.
Legal challenge against Censor
Monday 17 June 2019 | Published in Entertainment
There is fast- growing concern about Cook Islands moves to ban the movie Rocketman on moral grounds.
Cooks set to censor Elton
Sunday 16 June 2019 | Published in Entertainment
// It’s been screening for a week in Rarotonga, it’s the talk of the town – but now the movie of the life of superstar Elton John is being pulled from the cinema.
