Features
91 years and counting
Saturday 29 October 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in In Depth, Local
At the age of 91, Rongo Ezekiela is trim, energetic and agile, and continues to watch his food intake and mobility routine. He shares his healthy lifestyle journey, and his work experiences with Government in the 1950s taking care of the transmitter masts and stations, with senior journalist Melina Etches.
New Zealand to send firefighter trainers to Cook Islands
Thursday 27 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, Local
New Zealand firefighters are scheduled to train Cook Islands brigade volunteers early next year.
High school student combines art and business to help cover household bills
Monday 24 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Art, Local
A Tereora College student has combined her artistic and entrepreneurial skills to tap into the tourist market while helping with household costs.
Remembering Cyclone Martin: ‘It still makes me cry today’
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Cyclone Martin was one of the most devastating events in the Cook Islands history, but nearly 25 years on, Niki Rattle remembers the resilience of the Manihiki community. The former secretary of the Cook Islands Red Cross and current Cook Islands Ombudsman talks to Matthew Littlewood about the event.
What the story of Mātini teaches
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, Memory Lane, Opinion
Twenty-five years ago, Cyclone Martin hit Manihiki. Rachel Reeves, the author of ‘Mātini: The story of Cyclone Martin’ writes about why we should remember.
Paving the way for future league stars
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Features, League, Sports
The 20-year-old Tehinnah Tatuava is the lone Cook Islands-based player in the national women’s Rugby League World Cup team. She hopes this will be a stepping stone in paving the way for local up and coming girls and women in rugby league.
A life on the water: Setting sail on Serenity
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Weekend
Kiwi skipper Scott Farrand has lost count of the countries he’s visited, although it’s his first time in the Cook Islands. He is aboard one of several leisure yachts docked at the port in Avarua.
The flight of Kiwi 471
Monday 17 October 2022 | Written by Derek Fox | Published in Features, New Zealand, Regional
Kiwi 471 lifted off from Rarotonga airport a bit after 8am on Friday, October 14. On board the Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules transport aircraft, were 52 passengers and crew, heading for Manihiki atoll in the northern group.
BMX dream fast becoming a reality …
Saturday 15 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Go Local
Grand plans are in place for the future of BMX in the Cook Islands and there is some heavyweight support in making it a reality.
Navigating unsteady waters in a crowded market
Saturday 15 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features
New rules for marine tourism are in the pipeline, as operators express concern about overcrowding.
The secret to being a Christian champion
Friday 14 October 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
In life you only get to run once, so run to win. To avoid stumbling and losing your place in the race, don’t look back. You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa from the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Human rights abuses and violations: Children, people with disabilities and LGBT+ community ‘vulnerable’
Monday 10 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, In Depth
According to the Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) children continue to be subject to high levels of abuse, there is still a stigma around people with disabilities and the government is complicit in allowing religious leaders to persist with homophobic attitudes in the Cook Islands.
‘Scurrilous rags’ and ‘brimstone belchers’ – Cook Islands’ early newspapers
Saturday 8 October 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Weekend
An ‘insatiable lust’ for reading matter among Cook Islanders led to the appearance of Rarotonga’s first newspaper Te Punavai in 1843, printed with the help of the Sydney Morning Herald. Later in the century came Te Manu Rere, Te Torea and Ioi Karanga, all generating controversy and landing one local editor in prison – the first inmate of Rarotonga’s newest jail. By Rod Dixon.
Visitor arrival numbers dip, industry braces for ‘shoulder period’
Saturday 8 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, In Depth
Tourism providers are bracing themselves for the ‘shoulder period’ of the year, as visitor numbers are predicted to dip again.
Fruits of cocoa labour
Saturday 8 October 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, Go Local
A Rarotonga farmer is three years into growing cocoa for his chocolate business and is just starting to see the fruits of his labour.
CHURCH TALK: Fix your eyes on Jesus
Friday 7 October 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
When our devotion is on our church, our culture, our career, even our family, instead of Jesus, then we’re on the slippery slope, writes Pastor Paul Kauri, lead pastor at The Arepua Gateway Assembly of God Church.
‘It was a bit of a baptism of fire coming here’: Departing Crown Prosecutor
Wednesday 5 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features
It’s been an adventure. All of it. But as Crown Prosecutor Annabel Maxwell-Scott sits down over coffee, she wonders whether it’s time for a new one.
A tribute to Papa John Tansley – A 57-year Rarotonga resident
Monday 3 October 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features
John Tansley passed away a week ago at his home by the lagoon in Avana. He always told us he wouldn’t leave Raro, and true to his word, he never will. By Craig Tansley (and brothers, Rod, Dale and Paul).
Cook Islands chef heads to culinary celebration
Saturday 1 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Food
Cook Islands chef Rangi Mitaera-Johnson will mix it with the best in the region for what looks to be celebration of food and community to help strengthen relationships between the Pacific and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Chantal’s drive: ‘It’s a matter of determination’
Saturday 1 October 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features
A Cook Islands podcaster has branched out in an effort to connect the nation to dozens of countries.
