More Top Stories
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 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
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 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
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Opinion
Thomas Wynne: A time to reflect, change
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the mama who was tragically taken while simply walking down the road in our village of Arorangi this week. May God comfort you all in this time of grief and loss, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.
Te Ipukarea Society: Nocturnal beetle a growing problem for Cook Islands crops
This week’s article is an expansion on an earlier “Bug of the Week” post informed by Mike Bowie who was working at the Ministry of Agriculture.
LETTER TO EDITOR: China support ‘should be welcomed’
Dear Editor, Your letter writer of yesterday’s ‘No Chinatown’ message is just sour grapes.
Global opposition for the rush to mine deep seabed is growing
Most of us have heard that Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) has recently come out publicly in support of a conditional moratorium on deep sea mining (DSM) in international waters.
LETTER TO EDITOR: Justice must be seen to be done
Dear Editor, I’m confused! In the Cook Islands News court report of 2 November, I read where a young man pleaded guilty to a charge of careless driving. The offence being the result of a two car a collision, where he ran into the rear of another vehicle. The police allege it was due to him not paying attention on the road. Full article click on link
LETTER: We are all equal in the eyes of God
Today is October 31st or Halloween where the ghosts and spirits are said to walk amongst us and to help them blend in, people dress up in costumes of the dead, writes Ruta Mave.
LETTER: Showers of blessing
Dear Editor, Lord Jesus, how so awesome, amazing and wonderful is your love and provision towards us, for the huge, humungous, voluminous and God-blessed downpour – a much-needed rain miracle last weekend ushering us into Gospel Week’s Celebration and still showering blessings to another weekend.
PET TALK: It’s all in the eyes
Bright, clear, liquid, dazzling, sad, doleful, crying, lying, beautiful. Eyes can be all of these things. Dogs are experts at puppy dog eyes. Cats are expert at death stares. Eyes tell us all sorts of things about their owners. But sometimes things go wrong. Dr Michael Baer explains.
LETTER: A memorable birthday for all the wrong reasons
Dear Editor, Yesterday, October 22, was my birthday, it was also the day my brother would return from Rarotonga to Auckland on Air New Zealand 945 with a Premium Economy seat that I booked and paid for (no awards points used, just good old hard cash) back in August, one of the last two seats available for this grade of service. I treated him to a Business class ride up here but I was unable to purchase a return Business Class seat because they were ALL SOLD OUT BACK IN AUGUST.
LETTER: TAU’s solar bid ‘designed to fail’
Dear Editor, Te Aponga Uira (TAU) has announced it seeks private sector investment in solar arrays for 4 MW of solar energy. This would require millions of dollars of investment, probably $7 million to $8m in total.
RUTA MAVE: Homogenisation of culture
The homogenisation of cultures across the globe has created a melting pot where communication, cooperation and calm cohesion have created thriving and bustling communities, writes Ruta Mave.
Diving out of their comfort zone for deep sea capacity building
A marine research and training programme called Denticles and Tentacles offered a unique opportunity to train students between the ages of 16-24 years old in ocean exploration, engineering, and research techniques.
Unlocking doors to Cook Islands’ UN membership
The United States’ intention to establish diplomatic ties and recognise the Cook Islands as a sovereign state will open doors to United Nations membership, writes Rarotonga writer and historian Howard Henry.
What the story of Mātini teaches
Twenty-five years ago, Cyclone Martin hit Manihiki. Rachel Reeves, the author of ‘Mātini: The story of Cyclone Martin’ writes about why we should remember.
LETTER: Access to proper water system
Dear Editor, Further to the letter to the editor (Where’s the promised potable water? Cook Islands News 20/10/22), regarding all that incredible waste of taxpayers’ money on the ongoing Te Mato Vai/To Tatou Vai fiasco – both local taxpayers’ contribution as well as from our generous New Zealand cousins – and nothing to show for it!
CHURCH TALK: The family is ordained of God
I am grateful for the opportunities we have to learn more about our Saviour Jesus Christ, his gospel, and how we can actively participate in the work of salvation and exaltation both for ourselves and our families, writes Tamatoa Jonassen of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
LETTER: ‘Christianity’ and homosexuality
Dear Editor, Kia Orana in the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus Christ. My topic to share to the people of the Cook Islands this week. “Auraka E Tau’ati I Taku Ipukarea - Rape not my paradise Cook Islands.” 1. Mr Editor my bible says – “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a disgrace to any people.” Proverb 14:34 2. God hates sin but he loves man to come to repentance because God got no respect for any person. 3. Repentance is the most appropriate situation for any person who hates God and Christianity
Where’s the promised potable water?
Dear Editor, So, the Government has walked away from legal claims against the Te Mato Vai contractor China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (“CCECC”) for substandard work.
The name Avaiki Nui
Dear Editor, God save us from another insecure Cook Islander born overseas (Te Kaveinga ki ‘Avaiki Nui, Oct 18) who needs to remind us who live here how useless we are.
Te Kaveinga ki ʻAvaiki Nui
Many people, places and items continue to sail through life comfortably with two or more names, with some names taking prominence over others depending on the time and context. The question is, could we also sail our nation under two different names? By Liam Kokaua.
Ruta Mave: Homecoming
I did not feel welcomed as similar, related or one people growing up in South Auckland. We were referred to as coons, bunga’s or coconuts by others including Maori and we in reply called them hori’s and kumara’s. Maybe Minister Nanaia Mahuta is right, the mana of the Cook Islands has matured. We hope it has for them too.
Sea sponges as an organic industry
Much of the world we live in today is made of plastic. This western influenced product that we have come to rely so heavily on is the polar opposite of our traditional organic rito crafts and raurau plates that naturally break down over time.
