Politics
Climate change issues dominate bilateral talks
Thursday 15 December 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Environment, Local, National, Politics
The United States (U.S.) Diplomatic Envoy to New Zealand Thomas Udall’s visit to the Cook Islands is his first significant bilateral engagement with the nation.
Poto Williams to retire ahead of next NZ election
Wednesday 14 December 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Features, National, Politics
New Zealand-born Cook Islander Munokoapoto (Poto) Williams is one of the Labour MPs stepping down at the next election.
Cook Islands hosts U.S Diplomatic Envoy
Tuesday 13 December 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Politics, Regional
United States (U.S.) Diplomatic Envoy to New Zealand Thomas Udall arrived in Rarotonga yesterday afternoon for three days of meetings with Cook Islands Government representatives, including Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) Mark Brown and Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Tepaeru Herrmann.
Browne set to lead Opposition in Parliament
Tuesday 13 December 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Democratic Party leader Tina Browne will assume the role of Leader of the Opposition once Parliament returns to sitting, but will not confirm whether it will work closely with the newcomers, the Cook Islands United Party.
Homosexual Law reform remains in limbo
Wednesday 7 December 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Local, National, Politics
Changes to the Crimes Act which will remove homosexuality as an offence will now not to be able to take place until March next year.
Govt remains tightlipped
Tuesday 6 December 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National, Politics
More than two months after the Cook Islands Government announced it had dropped legal action against a Chinese company for poor workmanship in a multi-million-dollar water project, questions as to why and how this happened remains unanswered.
Hosking-Ashford wants a second bite at the cherry
Monday 5 December 2022 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Politics
Democratic Party candidate and businesswoman Davina Hosking-Ashford says her challenge in joining politics was understanding the political platform.
Calls for change to Constitution after petition delays Parliament schedule
Saturday 3 December 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Opposition and the Government are calling for a change to the Constitution to allow for Parliament to sit while electoral petitions are still being heard.
High Commissioner’s term ends
Saturday 3 December 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Features, National, Politics
Elizabeth Wright-Koteka has finished her term as the Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, and will return to Rarotonga today.
New Zealand will not stand in way of Cook Islands United Nations bid
Wednesday 30 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
The New Zealand Pacific Peoples’ Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister have now both indicated New Zealand will offer assistance for any Cook Islands bid to the United Nations.
Cook Islands and China to mark 25 years co-operation
Monday 28 November 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Politics
Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China to New Zealand and the Cook Islands, Wang Xiaolong, will visit Rarotonga this week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Petition survives: Cook Islands United Party petition to have its day in the High Court
Saturday 26 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Cook Islands United Party candidate Margharet Matenga’s petition that claims several voters in the Titikaveka electorate were ineligible and should not have been counted will get its chance in the High Court.
Cooks formalise diplomatic relations with Ireland
Thursday 24 November 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in National, Politics
The Cook Islands and Ireland have committed to strengthening bilateral and multilateral co-operation through formalisation of diplomatic relations at a signing ceremony in Wellington on Sunday.
Petition appeal dismissed: Cook Islands Party all clear to form coalition government
Thursday 24 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
The Cook Islands United Party’s petition accusing two independent Atiu candidates of treating has lost its appeal, and remains struck out, with the Cook Islands Party likely to seek costs.
‘No timeframe’ on proposed medicinal cannabis regulation
Tuesday 22 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Health, National, Politics
A medicinal cannabis advocate is calling on the Cook Islands Government to honour their promise to speed up medicinal cannabis law, but the Secretary of Health says there is ‘no timeframe’ for legislation.
PM’s party to seek costs after petitions dismissed
Friday 18 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
A High Court judge has dismissed the Cook Islands United Party’s petitions that the Cook Islands Party’s policy of a tax-free threshold of $60,000 in the Pa Enua in lead up to 2022 general election amounted to bribery.
Cook Islands United Nations bid backed by New Zealand Green Party
Wednesday 16 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
New Zealand Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for the Cook Islands to become a full member nation of the United Nations without having to relinquish dual New Zealand citizenship.
Judges reserve decision on Titikaveka petition appeal
Friday 4 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Cook Islands United Party candidate Margharet Matenga’s petition that several voters in the Titikaveka electorate were ineligible and should not have been counted ‘is disenfranchising, and should be struck out’, a lawyer for elected MP Sonny Williams argues.
‘We’re after the same thing’ - PM Brown reacts to NZ’s call for ban on seabed mining
Thursday 3 November 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Business, National, Politics
As the New Zealand government moves towards a moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown claims both governments are actually after the same thing. Matthew Littlewood and Caleb Fotheringham report.
Petitions alleging treating goes to Court of Appeal
Thursday 3 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Petitions accusing independent candidates of treating should not have been struck out, lawyer for the Cook Islands United Party argues.