Features
Cool, calm and collected - Tangianau Taoro is an all-rounder
Saturday 21 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
President of the Cook Islands Girl Brigade Company, a senior Justice of the Peace and team leader of the recently completed Te Mato Vai water intake project, Taoro tells Melina Etches how she keep her cool to carry out her duties and responsibilities.
GO LOCAL: Entrepreneurs ready to take risks
Saturday 21 August 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Features, Go Local
At a time when our border link with New Zealand is up in the air creating uncertainty for many local businesses, the owners of Rarotonga’s newest café are feeling excited and optimistic about their venture.
CHURCHTALK: Finding peace in uncertain times
Friday 20 August 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
God did not promise that bad things will not happen to us but what He did promise was the blessings of his presence in our lives and re-assurance of salvation through eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa.
Israel, once the model for beating Covid-19, faces new surge of infections
Wednesday 18 August 2021 | Written by The New York Times | Published in Features, In Depth
Questions are being raised about the Covid-19 vaccine’s efficacy as Israel, one of the most vaccinated societies, now has one of the highest infection rates in the world, By Isabel Kershner from the New York Times.
'The ocean and I' - Vaka crew reflect on voyage to the North
Saturday 14 August 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, Weekend
Surviving squalls of concentrated rain and big gusts of wind, rookie crew members of Vaka Marumaru Atua are looking forward to their next voyage to learn more about the ocean around them. By Caleb Fotheringham.
Whispering life into plants
Saturday 14 August 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Weekend
Lots of gardeners have “green fingers”, the ability to grow things well, better than most people. But Luduina Williams is a “plant whisperer”, a gardener who is repeatedly able to achieve all kinds of magical things in her garden. By Melina Etches
What to know about breakthrough infections and the Delta variant
Friday 13 August 2021 | Written by The New York Times | Published in Features, In Depth
Scientific understanding of the coronavirus variant is changing quickly. Here’s a recap of the most important findings. By Apoorva Mandavilli from the New York Times.
CHURCHTALK: Time pause, to ponder & pray
Friday 13 August 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Pastor Paul Kauri of The Arepua Gateway Assembly of God Church is using today’s Church Talk as a ‘Devotion Time’ for our readers – a time to read through the words of Jesus and to ask questions, causing us to pause, ponder and pray.
80 years of ‘hard but good life’
Tuesday 10 August 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Eighty years ago, a time when war dominated world affairs, a baby girl was born in Reureu; colloquially known as Reureu Te Mata o Teerui – a village situated on the western side of Aitutaki, far removed from the turmoil of war-torn Europe.
The ‘Ponder houses’ of Harley Street
Saturday 7 August 2021 | Written by Rod Dixon | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Several houses and schools in Rarotonga share a link with Scott Base in Antarctica and Auckland International Airport in Mangere, having been designed by the same man, architect Frank Ponder. Gradually disappearing, Ponder’s Rarotonga buildings retain important heritage value.
Painting the stage red
Saturday 7 August 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Entertainment, Features
Late nights, yelling, sore muscles, and no sleep, yet I would still count the last two months where I was a part of this year’s Te Maeva Nui as one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.
Nicholas family reconnect through history
Saturday 7 August 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Memory Lane
The Nicholas family has a long and rich history across the Cook Islands, throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and the world. Al Williams met a member of the extended family who is making connections across the globe.
Thanking God for the imperfect church
Friday 6 August 2021 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Church Talk, Features
Grace is always first, peace always second. This is due to the fact that grace is the source of peace. Without grace, there is and can be no peace, writes Reverend Vakaroto Ngaro of Ekalesia Avarua.
Removing barriers for business
Monday 2 August 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Features, Go Local
To escape Auckland’s crazy weather and longing to come home, Davina Hosking-Ashford moved back to the Cook Islands three years ago with her husband and two children. They now put young Cook Islanders through university and run the Cook Islands Business Hub.
Let the show begin!
Saturday 31 July 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, Features
After a lapse of a year due to Covid-19 pandemic, the annual Te Maeva Nui cultural festival returns this weekend. The five-day event got underway yesterday with an official opening ceremony and a float procession at the Constitution Park, participated by 26 teams who gave a glimpse of celebration expected in the coming days.
A day in the life at sea
Saturday 31 July 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Weekend
It’s a big family to feed and keep happy aboard the New Zealand Royal Navy protector-fleet offshore patrol ship HMZS Wellington which visited Rarotonga this week. Al Williams caught up with some of the crew and had a look around the vessel.
CHURCHTALK: Unity in diversity – Rotai o te Tukeke
Friday 30 July 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Let us showcase all diversities of gifts, skills and talents that God has blessed each and every one of us so much with, from the different islands we come from, different cultures, customs and traditions, at this year’s Constitution celebrations, writes Bishop Tutai Pere of the Apostolic Church.
History made as Atiu invests Ngamaru Ariki and Rongomatane Ariki
Friday 23 July 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, In Depth
Hundreds of people descended onto the island of Atiu to witness the historic akamarokura’anga (investiture) of Ngamaru Ariki and Rongomatane Ariki conducted three days apart. By Melina Etches.
Pride and prejudice: Lobby group takes leap of faith for LGBTQI community
Friday 23 July 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Weekend
A Cook Islands lobby group is taking giant steps forward in a combined effort to bring about equality. Al Williams reports.
CHURCH TALK: Not them and those but us
Friday 23 July 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Church Talk, Features
Our first duty as Christians is to serve others, especially the poor and the marginalised, just as Jesus did. In this country in the 19th century there was an openness to encounter and welcome the stranger. Why is it then that today there is fear and alarm about being open to the stranger? By Bishop Paul Donoghue of the Catholic Church.
