Weekend
Chestnut mum says: Buy it, eat it, love it
Thursday 7 May 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Weekend
Ritia Tangimetua’s late mother loved chestnuts; now she has passed on that passion to her own children.
Mama Tere a 'woman of substance' at 60
Thursday 7 May 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Weekend
Growing up, Tere Joseph’s children watched with awe as their formidable mum raised them, worked a senior management job, and helped run a church in their own home.
My mother Tashi Tutai: 'E vaine aruaru'
Thursday 7 May 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Weekend
Rima Browne tells how her mother Tashi Tutai shared different traits with each of her five ‘children of God’.
The man who wants to reinvent tourism
Tuesday 5 May 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Weekend
Resort owner Tata Crocombe is a polarising business leader – but if he’s right, he may have reimagined the future of tourism in a new era of Covid.
Stepping into the shoes of the 'extraordinary' Tessa Temata
Saturday 2 May 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Weekend
Her diplomatic career has taken her to Mexico City and New York, but five months after stepping in as New Zealand’s acting High Commissioner to Cook Islands, Rachel Bennett and her family have fallen in love with the people, the food and the way of life in Rarotonga.
Pa'ua to the people, no more
Saturday 2 May 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Weekend
Cook Islanders will no longer be permitted to send pa'ua to family and friends overseas, after new evidence revealing just how depleted the populations are. Rachel Reeves reports.
Cook Islanders serving abroad in the pandemic
Wednesday 29 April 2020 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Weekend
Cook Islanders around the world have been essential workers as the countries they live in go into lockdown. Melina Etches tells the story of her sister Ngaoa Etches in Western Australia, Moira Guinea-Beal in Queensland and Katherine Henry in Oregon, USA.
Anzac Day: Remembering those who passed this year
Friday 24 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Weekend
Ahead of Anzac Day commemorations tomorrow, Moana Moeka‘a remembers the army service of four Cook Islanders who have passed away in the past year.
The Queen of Palmerston celebrates milestone
Friday 24 April 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Weekend
Sarah Marsters comes from a family with a big history. She has spent her life with people with strong personalities like her famous first husband Tom Neale – but the 96-year-old from an island of just 35 people has never been overshadowed.
'Nurses are dying because they aren't given protective equipment'
Friday 24 April 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Weekend
From an office in Geneva, Elizabeth Iro is a commander in the battle against the greatest health crisis the world has ever seen.
The cheapest fish ever – thanks to Covid
Friday 24 April 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Weekend
Coronavirus shutdowns have hit tourism and restaurants the world over – but what’s that got to do with the price of fish?
Meet the cash collector
Thursday 23 April 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Weekend
Cook Islands’ best-known cash collector isn’t Revenue Management Division. The honour goes to a restaurateur in Arorangi – and now, he’s offering one of his Cook Islands $3 notes to the widow of the man who designed them.
Lifting ra'ui to feed the hungry
Tuesday 21 April 2020 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Weekend
Cultural and environmental experts say traditional leaders may decide to lift ra’ui on protected marine areas to allow people to go fishing as times get tough – but already, some people are taking the law into their own hands.
The last tourists left behind
Monday 20 April 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Weekend
When others talked of being stranded on Raro, there are a few tourists who decided there could be no better place to call home in a locked down world.
Separated from my family, isolated in barbed wire-fenced 'hot facility'
Saturday 18 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Weekend
Shaun Bamber’s small daughter was med-evaced from Rarotonga to New Zealand before the coronavirus border lockdown. Now, he tells of his long journey to join his family again.
Keeping our children safe in lockdown
Saturday 18 April 2020 | Written by Legacy Author | Published in Weekend
Gina Tavioni Bamber is guiding her three children through lockdown and critical health care, without her husband Shaun. She tells how she misses him – and she misses their home in Rarotonga.
The famous $3 note: Ina rides her shark into the sunset
Saturday 18 April 2020 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Weekend
Rick Welland painted the image on the $3 bill – but recently, his widow gave away their last one.
Tourism pushes pause for 'better return'
Friday 17 April 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Weekend
Cook Islands Tourism has put a hold on international media promotion valued at $8.5m – but hopes to cash in when the country opens its door to tourists again.
Homeward to the unknown
Thursday 16 April 2020 | Written by Jonathan Milne | Published in Weekend
The Government of Germany plans to fly up to 40 stranded European tourists home from Cook Islands on an Air New Zealand charter flight this weekend.
Growing our economy again
Saturday 11 April 2020 | Written by Katrina Lintonbon | Published in Weekend
Like a seed, a country’s economy needs stimulation to grow. There are no quick fixes for the Covid-19 crisis, but ideas for rebuilding are starting to sprout.
