More Top Stories
‘Nothing to worry about’: Prime Minister Brown on China agreement
16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
15 February 2025
Ruta Mave: People’s Republic of China red flag
10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
8 February 2025
Thomas Wynne: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?
8 February 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
$541.7m tourism earnings
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
Pacific
Cook Islands seeking New Zealand expertise for Sovereign Wealth Fund
The Cook Islands government has taken further steps towards establishing a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), with officials currently in New Zealand holding discussions with financial experts, Prime Minister Mark Brown told Parliament this week.
NZ DPM Peters meets China Foreign Minister, discusses Cooks constitutional relationship
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing this week where they discussed their strong relationships with Pacific countries, including New Zealand's special constitutional relationships with its Realm partners particularly the Cook Islands.
Micronesian leaders hold firm on Waqa’s nomination for SG role
Micronesian leaders maintain their support for the nomination of controversial former Nauru president Baron Waqa as the next Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
A curse to be a parent in Gaza: more than 3600 Palestinian children killed in just 3 weeks of war
More than 3600 Palestinian children were killed in the first 25 days of the war between Israel and Hamas, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry. They were hit by airstrikes, smashed by misfired rockets, burned by blasts and crushed by buildings, and among them were newborns and toddlers, avid readers, aspiring journalists and boys who thought they’d be safe in a church.
PNG churches not interested in taking over ‘entire government functions’
The government is abrogating its responsibility by asking the country's churches to provide more critical social services, a Papua New Guinea think tank has warned.
China wants direct air link with French Polynesia, says Consul
In a rare interview, China’s Consul in French Polynesia, Tian Lixiao has told local media his country was in favour of a direct air link with Tahiti. He also shared his country's views on a wide range of topics directly affecting the Pacific region.
Cook Islands MP-elect Nicholas has her eye on Pacific peoples portfolio
The only Pacific MP-elect in New Zealand’s National Party has her eye on the Pacific peoples portfolio.
‘Concerns’ on amount of gun violence in Auckland central
The day a construction site worker gunned down two people in Auckland’s city centre police also responded to a dozen other callouts across the region that resulted in firearms charges.
IAEA team gathers marine samples near Fukushima
A member of the International Atomic Energy Agency team visiting Fukushima for its first marine sampling since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant started releasing treated radioactive wastewater into the sea said Thursday, he does not expect any rise in radiation levels in the fish caught in the regional seas.
Vanuatu on high alert for early season cyclone Lola
A tropical cyclone warning was in place for Vanuatu's Torba and Senama, with tropical cyclone Lola a category 2 storm as of Monday morning (yesterday).
New Zealand’s banana ‘shortage based on seasonal demand’
New Zealanders are bananas for bananas, but the country relies on imports from Mexico, Ecuador and the Philippines for its supply. Some fruit growers hope to change that by sowing the seeds for a homegrown industry.
PNG-China common currency talks
One of the matters on the table for Papua New Guinea's prime minister James Marape during his visit to Beijing is establishing for both countries to trade in their own currencies.
Indigenous Voice Referendum: ‘Constitutional change in Australia is challenging’
Australia has responded with a resounding no to a referendum seeking to change its Constitution and give indigenous people a voice. A Cook Islands voter says the result is deeply saddening.
Hipkins to remain an MP for full three years in ‘whatever role necessary’
Chris Hipkins says he will remain an MP for the full three-year term, but whether and how long he remains Labour's leader remains uncertain.
IAEA to conduct marine environment sampling near Fukushima nuclear plant
Scientists with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), along with observers, will visit Japan next week to take marine samples near the defunct Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Violence against women and girls ‘increasing’ in Papua New Guinea
There was alarm in Papua New Guinea Parliament last week when MPs were told that gender based and sorcery violence was widespread and much higher than reported.
Eligible Cook Islanders invited to vote in Aussie referendum to recognise First Peoples of Australia
Cook Islanders holding Australian passport are being called on to vote today in a controversial referendum which seeks to recognise the First Peoples of Australia.
Fukushima nuclear waste water issue to be a standing agenda item at next PALM meeting
As Japan will begin releasing a second batch of wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant Thursday, the issue is expected to be a standing agenda item between the Pacific and Japan at the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM) to be hosted next by the Asian nation. PACNEWS reports.
‘A big loss for the nation’: Fiji’s public prosecutor dies at 49
Fiji's attorney general has confirmed the acting director of public prosecutions (DPP) and acting commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) David Toganivalu, 49, has died.
Vanuatu PM loses majority, faces defeat in Friday vote
The opposition group in Vanuatu appears to have secured the support of more MPs than the government.
Direct Fiji flight during Forum meet praised
A charter flight between Nadi and Rarotonga, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), has been praised by Fijians residing in the Cook Islands.
Bougainville unveils multibillion-dollar plan to deliver ‘transformative benefits’
Bougainville's President Ishmael Toroama has signed an agreement aiming to deliver $US4.8 billion worth of critical buildings, roads, ports and airports.
