Regional
Cultural clash at FestPAC: Respected female carver excluded due to gender protocol
Wednesday 12 June 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Art, Culture, Editor's Pick, Entertainment, Features, Local, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
A respected female Cook Islands carver, Awhitia Tavioni, was excluded from the official carving area at the 13th Pacific Arts Festival and Culture in Hawai’i due to a local kapu (rule) against women carvers, sparking a debate about cultural protocols and gender equality.
Cook Islands and Honolulu sign sister city agreement, eyeing tourism boost
Saturday 8 June 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional, Tourism
Prime Minister Mark Brown yesterday signed an agreement to establish a ‘sister-city relationship’ between Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and Honolulu, Hawaii, in the hope of building a stronger partnership and growth in inbound visitor numbers from Honolulu and the United States.
Environment kept in play at Kwajalein army base
Friday 7 June 2024 | Written by RNZ | Published in French Polynesia, Regional
The US Army says it's prioritising 'responsible stewardship' of the environment of its garrison at Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.
EU elections, Olympics overshadow New Caledonia crisis
Friday 7 June 2024 | Written by RNZ | Published in New Caledonia, Regional
People in New Caledonia are disappointed that the riots last month are now being overshadowed by the Parliament elections and the Olympic Games.
Support ongoing for landslide survivors in Papua New Guinea
Friday 7 June 2024 | Written by RNZ | Published in Papua New Guinea, Regional
Mounting challenges remain for the authorities and humanitarian groups supporting survivors, including women and children disproportionately, affected by the Papua New Guinea deadly landslide.
Tourism industry, Fijian residents welcome NZ scrapping transit visas
Friday 7 June 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Fiji, National, New Zealand, Regional, Tourism
Cook Islands tourism industry and Fijians residing here have welcomed New Zealand’s decision to lift transit visa requirements for Fiji nationals travelling through NZ.
Cook Islands hosts successful PASAI Congress, adopts 10-year strategy
Tuesday 28 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Cook Islands Audit believes the new Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) Strategy for 2024 -2034 that was adopted in Rarotonga last week is aligned well with their strategic intent.
NZ commits $20m to Cook Islands budget, $10.5m for public service
Monday 27 May 2024 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National, New Zealand, Regional
Cook Islands has secured $20 million in Core Sector Budget Support and an additional $10.5 million for continued public sector strengthening during the 8th Cook Islands-New Zealand Joint Ministerial Forum last week.
‘It takes a village’: Rotumans in Rarotonga unite to keep culture alive
Saturday 25 May 2024 | Written by Solomone Taukei | Published in Features, Fiji, Go Local, Regional, Weekend
The Rotuman community in Rarotonga recently celebrated Rotuma Day, marking the anniversary of the island’s cession to Great Britain on May 13, 1881.
Rarotonga, Honolulu to establish sister-city relationship, says PM
Saturday 25 May 2024 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, Features, National, Pacific Islands, Regional, Weekend
As leader of the Cook Islands delegation, Prime Minister Mark Brown will be travelling to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts & Culture (FestPAC) in Hawai’i next month.
‘Talanoa’ key to Forum’s seabed mining approach
Friday 24 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Local, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
A talanoa session expected to be held later this year would see Pacific Island Forum leaders coming together in a collective position on seabed mining.
NZ tourist dies on snorkelling tour, Police investigate
Wednesday 22 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Health, National, New Zealand, Regional, Tourism
A 49-year-old woman from New Zealand has been confirmed dead after being transported in an ambulance from the Avaavaroa Passage in Vaimaanga yesterday.
New Caledonia separatists defy French efforts to unblock roads
Tuesday 21 May 2024 | Written by Supplied | Published in New Caledonia, Regional
Separatists in riot-hit New Caledonia have refused to abandon roadblocks that have paralysed much of the Pacific archipelago and halted commercial air traffic, defying a major security operation by French forces.
Quality audits crucial for public trust, says former NZ PM Clark
Tuesday 21 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
The 25th Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) Congress highlighted the importance of independent audit reports for public trust and good governance in the Pacific.
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.
Home detention for New Caledonia unrest ringleaders, Tiktok banned
Friday 17 May 2024 | Written by RNZ | Published in New Caledonia, Regional
The presumed ringleaders of the unrest in New Caledonia have been placed in home detention and the social network TikTok has been banned as French security forces struggle to restore law and order.
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.
Cook Islanders in Nouméa on ‘high alert’ as violence erupts
Wednesday 15 May 2024 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Local, National, New Caledonia, Regional
Cook Islanders residing in Nouméa are on high alert amidst the violent unrest unfolding in New Caledonia’s capital over proposed constitutional changes. Rashneel Kumar and Losirene Lacanivalu report.
Puna honoured to end Pacific mission at home
Wednesday 15 May 2024 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Local, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Former prime minister Henry Puna, who ends his term as the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum this month, says he is humbled to have been the first Cook Islander to hold the post and fly the flag of his country.
