Features
Traditional canoes taking shape
Saturday 1 October 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Art, Features
In a bid to revive the art of traditional canoe building, Te Mana O te Vaka boat building and sailing project – a collaboration between the Cook Islands Voyaging Society (CIVS) and the Gallery Tavioni and Vananga – started last week.
CHURCH TALK: Life is too precious
Saturday 1 October 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
I have attended so many funerals and saw grieving families and friends over their loved ones. It still raises the question: ‘What if there is no resurrection?’ Reverend Vakaroto Ngaro of Ekalesia Avarua writes.
Auckland Cook Islands community’s ‘beating heart’ as good as gold
Monday 26 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
Cook Islander Selina Roimata Vainerere-Patia is the ‘beating heart’ of the Cook Islands community in Auckland, and is admired by many for her generous and kind hearted soul, always giving up her time for others. Last week she received the ASB (Auckland Savings Bank) ‘Good as Gold’ award in New Zealand. TVNZ’s Seven Sharp rocked up unannounced to a community meeting surprising Vainerere-Patia with the news.
Carving a niche in acting
Saturday 24 September 2022 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Features
When Dominic Ona-Ariki is not playing Detective Ariki Davis, a Cook Island Māori police officer in the New Zealand supernatural crime drama One Lane Bridge, he spends time discovering himself and his Cook Islands heritage.
‘An amazing honour and privilege’ – PM shares Queen’s funeral experience
Saturday 24 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral service was attended by Heads of State and Overseas Government Representatives, Foreign Royal Families, Governors General and Realm Prime Ministers, including the Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown. PM Brown shares his extraordinary experience attending the symbolic and historical event with Cook Islands News senior journalist Melina Etches.
Inflation hits hard: ‘The most vulnerable are hit the hardest’
Saturday 24 September 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features
The Cook Islands are facing serious inflationary pressures for the first time in several years. Senior journalist Matthew Littlewood looks into what could happen for both businesses and consumers as a result.
Renewable energy sets 2030 target
Saturday 24 September 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features
Cook Islands Renewable Energy Division started around 10 years ago with the ambitious goal to have the country fully renewable by 2020, the date has been and gone but the head of the division still views its work as a success.
Shipwrecked or ‘ship-saved’
Friday 23 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
The adversary satan subtly comes as a thief to steal, to kill and to destroy but Jesus comes to save and offers us eternal life with Him, writes Bishop Tutai Pere of the Apostolic Church.
Cooks doctor awarded rural health medal
Saturday 17 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features
A Cook Islands doctor and Otago postgraduate student has been awarded the Dr Amjad Hamid Medal at the 2022 National Rural Health Conference held in Christchurch this month.
Sonny Williams shares deep passion for language
Saturday 17 September 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features
Sonny Williams is passionate about Cook Islands Māori, and wants others to immerse themselves in the language. He talks to Cook Islands News journalist Matthew Littlewood about his role as a translator and what he wants to see happen with the language.
May she rest in peace
Friday 16 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Since last week, we have been coming to terms with the death of Queen Elizabeth II. For most of us, given she reigned for 70 years from 1952, she is the only monarch we have known. However, some of us may also have known the previous king, George the Sixth who became king in 1936, writes Bishop Paul Donoghue of the Catholic Church.
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II’s historic Cook Islands visit
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
As tributes continue to pour in for Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96, Cook Islands News senior journalist Melina Etches look back at Her Majesty’s first and only visit in her remarkable 70-year reign.
Journey full of opportunities
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features
Annah Stretton wants to spend more time in the Cook Islands. The New Zealand fashion designer and social justice philanthropist was the guest speaker at an event arranged by Cook Islands Business and Professional Women (BPW) society, where she gave an overview of her career.
Highlighting migration stories of Cook Islands women
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features
A New Zealand-born Cook Islander has returned to the islands to learn more about her mother’s migration to Aotearoa.
Serving with integrity
Friday 9 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Honesty and ethics are synonymous with integrity. The first of the eight public service values is ‘honesty’ which is described as ‘acting honestly, being truthful and abiding by the laws’, writes Tamatoa Jonassen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Aitutaki Liftoff aims to become South Pacific’s biggest fitness festival
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
The Aitutaki Liftoff – the island’s biggest fitness festival – kicked off its all-inclusive event that promotes health and wellness for everyone, last weekend.
A young Atiuan warrior’s 1972 migration to Rarotonga
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features
In October 1972 Tere Akava from Atiu said his final goodbyes to his grandparents as he left for Rarotonga, carrying only a small suitcase and a dream of becoming a motor mechanic.
CHURCH TALK: How you can be the salt of the earth
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Last week I queued up with many others in our community to participate in a nation-wide health survey carried out by Te Marae Ora.
Toka’s local designs to feature in Paris and London
Wednesday 31 August 2022 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Art, Features
Emerging fashion designer Toka Toka is set to launch Cook Islands culture, design and dance on the international runway through fashion.
Who really built Rev John Williams’ Rarotongan ship?
Saturday 27 August 2022 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features
John Williams was an evangelical Christian determined to spread the gospel throughout the Pacific. To this end, he constructed a ship at Rarotonga in 1827 with a ‘mechanical ingenuity’ that gave him legendary status in Britain and beyond. But who really built the ‘Messenger of Peace’?
