Features
Seabed explorer: Who are Moana Minerals?
Saturday 4 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, In Depth
Seabed explorer vessel Anuanua Moana has been blessed and named as she prepares for research work in Cook Islands waters. Today she is scheduled to set sail for Atiu, then Aitutaki, before sailing to the Penrhyn Basin where she will start mapping the area with sonar. Moana Minerals chief executive Han Smit is at the helm of the operation and briefs deputy editor Al Williams on what they are up to in our area of the Pacific.
Warring madness, or a sad anniversary
Friday 3 March 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
The Ukrainians and the Russians are not the only people being hurt by this war. Possibly there are two impacts of the war that we have felt in the Cook Islands, writes Bishop Paul Donoghue of the Catholic Church.
It’s a labour of love for long distance sailor
Wednesday 1 March 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features
Stephen Banks is a sailor on a mission – a mission to sail from New Zealand across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal to reach his three-year-old daughter in Maine – mainland United States.
Cook Islands holds first-ever sheep shearing and woolhandling nationals
Monday 27 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, Local, National
The Cook Islands held their first-ever shearing and woolhandling nationals a week ago in New Zealand, to select a team for the Golden Shears World Championships in Scotland later this year.
Women carve their place in traditional art
Saturday 25 February 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Features, National
Master carver Ta’unga Mike Tavioni BEM believes in women carvers and that they should be encouraged to practice the art.
A heart for service
Saturday 25 February 2023 | Written by Thomas Tarurongo Wynne | Published in Features, Opinion
Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands (Avaiki Nui) are inextricably tied together and have been since our people migrated there when Vaka left its shores bound for Avaiki Tautau in and around the 12th century. Our migration story starts then and happens again on mass in the 1950s and 1960s through to today with close to 100,000 people in Aotearoa identifying themselves as Cook Islands Maori, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Pa Ariki meets Aquaman
Saturday 25 February 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, Features, National
Pa Marie Ariki (middle) meets world famous actor Jason Momoa of Aquaman fame at Te Matatini Kapa Haka Festival this week at Auckland’s Ngā Ana Wai Eden Park.
Mosquito-borne diseases become climate reality in warming Pacific
Friday 24 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, Health, National
Disease surveillance by the WHO shows mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are rising sharply. By Catherine Wilson of Al Jazeera.
How Mangaians helped rescue Raro’s economy
Saturday 18 February 2023 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, In Depth, Memory Lane
At the beginning of the twentieth century migrants rescued Rarotonga’s population and economy, then in apparently ‘terminal’ decline. Within a few decades these migrants had become established Rarotongan families, traditional landowners and custodians of the culture. Is a similar process currently underway?
Commitment of doctors recognised
Saturday 18 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features
With a father who worked in health administration in the Cook Islands, it’s probably understandable Dr Te Ariki Faireka decided to study medicine.
Daring to dream: Young women turn ‘side hustles’ into fulltime businesses
Saturday 18 February 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Business, Features, In Depth, Local, National, Weekend
Businesswoman Ana File-Heather who is the founder of the Taki Tahi ‘start-up’ project facilitated a free online business incubator ‘Dreambuilder’ course for Cook Islands women last week.
Hope – even in the midst of difficult circumstances
Friday 17 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Many of us today have misplaced our hope in the things that don’t last. We have not really understood let alone rediscovered God’s purpose for our lives, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Red carpet rolled out at the Empire for world premiere
Monday 13 February 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Entertainment, Features, Local, National
The red carpet was rolled out on Rarotonga with a packed house for the world premiere of Cook Islands’ film Stranded Pearl.
‘The Lord saved our marriage’
Saturday 11 February 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Features, In Depth, National
Well known Cook Islanders Kevin and Tina Iro have been together for 37 years but their journey has not been smooth sailing. They parted ways in 2007 after ‘everything spiralled out of control’, but a divine intervention saved their marriage. They talk to editor Rashneel Kumar about the meaning of Valentine’s Day and the secrets to succeeding in their marriage.
Spreading the spirit of love
Saturday 11 February 2023 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Features, In Depth, National
Valentine’s Day ‘organised chaos’ for gift retailers with 30-year romance. As gift retailer Island Craft gears up for its second-busiest holiday of the year, Valentine’s Day, business directors Fletcher and Vaea Melvin sit down with journalist Joanne Holden to share their love story and the secret to a lasting relationship.
Telling it like it is –Framhein’s 90-year journey
Saturday 11 February 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, In Depth, Memory Lane
Sharp, witty, wizened and well groomed, 90-year-old Apai Raropua Mataiapo Tutara Tekeu Emil Framhein still tells it like it is, good naturedly with no filter. Affectionately known as Apai or Papa Keu, Framhein shares some of his life’s journey with Cook Islands News senior journalist Melina Etches.
Artefacts gifted to King’s Representative
Friday 10 February 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Local, National
Veteran Kiwi journalist and Cook Islands News publisher John Woods has turned his hand to woodturning and is utilising his new found skills with Cook Islands native timber.
The arrival of the Gospel
Friday 10 February 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features, National
I wrote this muse two years ago, as we were celebrating the arrival of Gospel to Aitutaki, I thought it was worth raising up again in the light of Rarotonga’s 200-year celebrations in 2023, slightly edited of course, writes Paul Kauri, lead pastor at The Arepua Gateway Assembly of God Church.
Providing an experience to remember
Monday 6 February 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Features, Go Local
An Aitutaki-based lagoon cruise tour company allows guests to choose their own adventure, giving them an experience to remember.
A failure to connect? Leading telecom provider in spotlight
Monday 6 February 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, In Depth
The status of Vodafone as the lead controller of the telecommunications market in the Cook Islands has come under scrutiny thanks to a major report.
