National
Cook Islands passes Health Bill to improve health outcomes
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Health, National, Parliament
The Cook Islands Public Health Bill 2024 that aims to protect and promote the health of all people of the Cook Islands by reducing the incidence of disease and ill-health was passed on Thursday.
Cook Islands hosts PASAI Congress, set to assume leadership role
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Local, National
Cook Islands will assume the chair of the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions at the 25th PASAI Congress to be hosted in Rarotonga next week.
Cops in crisis: Cook Islands Police understaffed by 30-40 officers
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Crime, Local, National
Cook Islands Police face staffing shortages due to budget cuts and uncompetitive remuneration, prompting a restructuring effort to improve recruitment and retention.
From setbacks to glory: Eels coach Nicholas shares story of resilience
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Solomone Taukei | Published in Features, National, Rugby league, Sports, Weekend
In the world of sports, overcoming adversity is often the key to triumph. The victorious Avatiu Nikao Eels coach Clive Nicholas embodies this principle, sharing his story of how they navigated the challenging yet rewarding 2024 Cook Islands Rugby League season. Solomone Taukei reports.
Service and sacrifice: Puna keeps an ‘open mind’
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Features, In Depth, Local, Memory Lane, National, Outer Islands, Pacific Islands, Regional, Weekend
Former Cook Islands prime minister Henry Puna, who ends his term as Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General later this month, is planning to retire to his island home of Manihiki. But the 75-year-old is keeping an open mind and hasn’t ruled out a return to local political scene just yet. Losirene Lacanivalu reports.
Pa Puia Rangatira seeks family reconciliation after title dispute
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Features, National, Weekend
Rota Williams has been invested with the title of Pa Puia Rangatira surrounded by his family and guests at the new Pa Puia Marae in Tupapa last week.
Te Ipukarea Society: The mysteries of the Pacific Starlings
Saturday 18 May 2024 | Written by Te Ipukarea Society | Published in Environment, National
Have you ever been for a walk in the forest and been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a smokey dark grey bird with pale yellow eyes? If you have, you may have been looking at the shy and hard to find ‘Ī’oi or Rarotonga starling.
Possibilities for women in maritime ‘endless’
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Local, National, Weekend
Cook Islands women in maritime will be celebrating the International Day for Women in Maritime at Te Are Tapaeanga Pavilion at Avatiu Harbour today.
Cook Islanders caught in food shortages amid Nouméa unrest
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local, National, New Caledonia, Regional
Cook Islanders residing in Nouméa, New Caledonia, are concerned about food stocks as the violent unrest, which has claimed five lives, begins to subside.
Parliament fixes ‘oversight’ on preferential residency for Kiwis
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, New Zealand, Parliament, Regional
Parliament has passed a bill to amend the Immigration Act in order to comply with a court ruling that found a residency regulation giving preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens to be invalid.
Man who stole pigs to face justice
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Court, National
A man who has admitted to stealing a male and female pig this year in Rarotonga will be sentenced on June 19.
Lights out in Raro: Switch gear fumbles, planned outage looms
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National, Technology
A failed switch gear in the Tupapa substation caused this week’s unexpected power outage as Rarotonga’s electricity provider announces a planned outage for this weekend.
Cook Islands bans vapes, raises smoking age to 21
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Health, National, Parliament
Cook Islands Parliament passed a bill banning imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes and raising the smoking age to 21.
Public sector orientation enhances and equips new officials
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in Local, National
Twenty-four public service officials participated in a one-day Public Sector Orientation (PSO) session delivered by the Office of the Public Service Commissioner (OPSC) last month, as part of standard onboarding and recruitment.
Cook Islands seeks lessons from Kosovo’s path to IMF
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in National
Officials within the Cook Islands Foreign Service were able to engage with Kosovo’s recently accredited Ambassador to the Cook Islands, Jetmira Berdynah-Shala, as part of her programme of engagements in Rarotonga last week.
‘I vow to be a fierce advocate for our needs’: MP Tapaitau
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Parliament, Politics
Independent candidate Sarakura Tapaitau was sworn in as the new MP for Penrhyn/Tongareva and has pledged to represent the people’s interests.
Doubling GDP needed for NZ-level minimum wage: PM Brown
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands can only afford a minimum wage similar to New Zealand’s if it more than doubles its gross domestic product to $1.2-$1.5 billion, according to Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Parliament briefs
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Parliament
Six Bills were presented and tabled during yesterday’s Parliament sitting.
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Parliament
In supporting the most vulnerable, the Government has allocated funds for caregivers, patient referrals, increasing the minimum wage, and supporting non-government organisations (NGOs) for the next financial year.
Government aims to stimulate economy through infrastructure spending
Thursday 16 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
Government’s focus on infrastructure investment to deliver key projects such as roads, Manihiki Airport upgrades, and Aitutaki’s water project has been proposed in the 2024/2025 Budget. Yesterday, Prime Minister Mark Brown, who is also the Minister for Finance, tabled the Appropriation Bill 2024 in Parliament where Government has proposed $328million for the 2024-2025 Budget. In […]
