More Top Stories
Charlie-Puna admits to café visit, loses prison privileges
10 September 2024
Browne calls for investigation into prison work release programme
11 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
11 months jail for man caught smuggling 1.176kg of cannabis
13 August 2024
Helmet safety concerns raised amid enforcement challenges
2 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
STI cases on the rise
2 September 2024
Accused rapist admits to 47 charges, suppression lifted
31 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Diaspora dismayed over lack of Te Maeva Nui livestream
8 August 2024
Everyone is a winner, says Culture
7 August 2024
Local women outshine global peers in business leadership
8 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Tapaitau appeal dismissed
17 July 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
TB cases detected
1 June 2024
Opinion
Letter: ‘It’s time we listened to the science’
I write with a heavy heart, disappointed by the narrow-mindedness I see in some of my fellow Cook Islanders when it comes to seabed minerals exploration.
Letter: SBMA ‘losing control’
I would like to speak as an environmentally concerned Cook Islander, hearing concerns raised by Dr Teina Rongo on Temu Okotai’s radio show yesterday morning (Monday).
When is a Cook Islander not a Cook Islander?
Te Tuhi Kelly says the answer to his question is when he/she is NZ Maori. This is the first of a two-part opinion piece.
Are we a failed democracy?
Norman George - lawyer Critical matters of State not to be messed with
Sunday flights referendum:
Wilkie Rasmussen – Cook Isands News columnist A necessary abuse of democracy Banning Sunday flights has been on the calling cards of some Aitutaki people.
Mollycoddling of children
I was reading an article recently regarding how we are not bringing up our children to have ‘resilience’. It reminded me of a number of references I have made on how parents in the Cook Islands are raising their children. One of those articles dealt with child abuse and the risk that this poses for us going forward.
Why has the law changed in respect of occupation rights?
The concept of occupation rights (simply a right to occupy a designated area of a block of land) was first introduced in the Cook Islands when the Land Court, just after the turn of the 20th century, established the “house sites” that line both sides of the main road in Avarua and in Arorangi.
Memories of a favourite teacher
Do you remember your favorite teacher?
Truthfulness the essential virtue
The virtue of Truthfulness is upheld in all sacred scriptures as an essential virtue. Telling the truth means that we keep our word.
Cook Islanders unwanted as solicitor general?
There was a fierce global debate some years ago at Universities, in particular in Commonwealth countries and the United States. It was whether to practise “preferential treatment” for people with different ethnic backgrounds from say “pakeha” in New Zealand.
New year chance 'to make all things new'
I love new beginnings - a new year, the first day of school, a birthday. It is a chance to start over, “to make all things new.” (Revelations 21:5)
Parliament now a social event notice board
Parliament sat and rose after two measly days of sitting. It would be fair to say, it was simply a waste of time.
Critics, time to eat your hearts out!
Friday, December 18, marks the crowning event in a story of unflinching determination, commitment and daring, to open what could be the largest building in the Cook Islands, Te Patupaepae o Enuamanu, Enuamanu III.
'Santa from Hell' faces day of reckoning
We Cook Islanders like to be renowned for our kindness, God-fearing Christian saintliness and for being civil to one another.
Family Law Bill could do with additions
I do not expect the important Family Law Bill to be put before Parliament for the two-day maximum priority Christmas party sitting of Parliament next week.
Same-sex debate galvanises opinions
I want to expand on a topic which I touched on briefly previously.
Homecoming on my mind.
Dan and I are beyond ready to complete our long trip away and come home to Paradise.
Budget grab could be disaster too
By Norman George, lawyer
Caring for our elders vitally important
While we are traveling outside the Cook Islands, I rely on friends emailing or messaging me with news from home.
Civil defence failure is shameful
By Norman George, Lawyer “Rarotonga, we have a problem.” A spate of recent drownings and what appears to be the systematic failure of the police and other emergency services to react on time is catastrophic, shameful and inexcusable.
A weekend to remember
Norman George - laywer Sometimes it is glorious to be away and isolated- protected by the Pacific Ocean. Events this last weekend around the world is a mixture of horror and glory.
Avatiu MP faces difficult decisions
A week can be a long time in politics.