Opinion

Ruta Mave: Government’s real jokes on the people

Tomorrow is April Fool’s Day and I recently read that it was going to be cancelled. The reason – there was such foolishness happening in governments around the world that surely it must be a joke, writes Ruta Mave.

Kata: Chief's title

Kata: Cyberbullying

Thomas Wynne: Income divide

In the second and final part of “The Land of Milk and Honey” series, columnist Thomas Tarurongo Wynne continues his comparison of figures between Cook Islanders at home and in Aotearoa New Zealand, and examines what the data reveals about the two populations.

Te Ipukarea Society: Giving the floor to indigenous voices

As the International Seabed Authority (ISA) assembly meeting in Jamaica nears its conclusion for 2025, Itirangi Pennycook highlights key moments from a busy and eventful time attending as observers on behalf of Te Ipukarea Society (TIS), writes Itirangi Pennycook.

Virtues in Paradise: Finding balance: The importance of simple pleasures

I’m writing this column while enjoying a gift for my 83rd birthday – a trip to Hawaii, where Dan and I lived for three years, writes Linda Kavelin-Popov.

Kata: Juvenile Crime

Kata: Police staff recruitment

Letter: ‘Stop being hypocrites’

Dear Editor, Reading Trev Pitt (Cook Islands News 25/3/25) going on about the shortage of Police, he makes it sound like a recent issue.

Kata: Rundown

Pet Talk: Heartworm disease in dogs

Heartworm disease is a condition that affects dogs and is caused by the parasitic worm Dirofilaria immitis, writes Dr Rose Hasegawa, medical director Te Are Manu Vet Clinic.

Kata: CISNOC

Kata: PAC vs CIIC

Letter: Medicinal cannabis and the law

Dear Editor: There are provisions in the Ministry of Health Act under Relationships with other laws that do not limit any other law of the Cook Islands and are not intended to limit or exclude any civil right or remedy unless this is expressly provided for and compliance with this Act does not, of itself, indicate that common law duty of care has been satisfied.

Ruta Mave: Need independent thinking women in politics

Established and growing research results show that women’s leadership in political decision-making processes improves them, writes Ruta Mave.

Kata: Donor money

Kata: Recent visit China

Thomas Wynne: Milk and honey lost?

The land of milk and honey? Or did we leave the milk and honey behind, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Te Ipukarea Society: Cycles, coconuts, salmon and us

June Hosking and Itirangi Pennycook are representing Te Ipukarea Society in Jamaica at the 2025 International Seabed Authority (ISA) negotiations. This article was prompted by a speech by the Hereditary Chief of the Wolf Clan of the Gitxsan Nation, Canada.