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
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Pacific
NZ looks forward to talks with Cook Islands govt
New Zealand has indicated to the Cook Islands Government that they are looking forward to discussions between relevant officials on their concerns related to the China / Cook Islands agreement.
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.
Case dropped against unionist
fiji – A prominent trade unionist in Fiji said he’s not surprised the public prosecutor has decided not to push ahead with charges against him. Felix Anthony, who is the head of the Trade Unions Congress, was arrested at the end of January over comments he made in support of striking airport workers in Nadi.
Pohiva expects Tonga to bounce back
TONGA – Tonga’s prime minister said Pacific people are resilient and he expects his country to bounce back from the devastation caused by last week’s Cyclone Gita.
Sea level rise likely to be double what's predicted
NEW ZEALAND – A prominent New Zealand research scientist said sea level rise from the Antarctic ice sheet may be twice that of previous estimates.
Fiji's traffic woes impacting the economy
FIJI – Auckland may have a traffic problem – but so does Suva.
Clinic open around the clock
AMERICAN SAMOA – A doctor in American Samoan says a free 24 hour clinic operating after Cyclone Gita has seen a steady flow of patients.
Entrepreneur urges more support, less jealousy
SAMOA – Businesses in Samoa are being urged to support and collaborate with other entrepreneurs around the region.
Missing fishermen rescued
MICRONESIA – Three fishermen have been rescued in the Federated States of Micronesia after they spent eight days stranded at sea.
Schools-in-a-box sent to Tonga
TONGA – Emergency educational supplies from UNICEF have been flown to Tonga this week.
'Resettled' refugees sent back to Manus
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Nine Manus Island refugees who tried to resettle in Papua New Guinea are reportedly being returned to the island.
New claims of police brutality in Fiji
FIJI – New accusations of police brutality with claims of torture and rape have surfaced in Fiji.
Targets won't halt seas rising
PACIFIC – New research shows targets set out in the Paris climate change agreement may not be enough to offset sea level rise in the next 300 years. The research, published this week in the journal Nature Communications, says the world will experience sea level rise of between 0.7 and 1.2 metres even if the targets are met.
New images reveal cyclone's wrath
TONGA – New photographs taken just yesterday around the eastern area of Tonga’s main island of Tongatapu show extensive damage to homes, vegetation and schools caused by the category four Cyclone Gita.
Newborn baby deaths a 'serious concern'
PACIFIC – UNICEF says the rate of newborn deaths in Kiribati, Papua New Guinea and the Federated States of Micronesia remains alarmingly high.
Refusing medical help
NAURU – A female asylum seeker on Nauru with a life-threatening heart condition is refusing an offer to be transferred overseas for medical treatment, saying she will not go without her son.
Tongan schools in post-cyclone crisis
TONGA – As Cyclone Gita roared across Tonga last week it destroyed government buildings, churches and private homes – it also smashed the island’s schools and has sabotaged the immediate education prospects of hundreds of Tongan children.
Communication before and during cyclone criticised
SAMOA – Concerns are being raised in the two Samoas about the state of emergency communications and the lack of updates during Cyclone Gita.
Poor building standards exposed
TONGA – Cyclone Gita’s trail of destruction has exposed poor building standards in Tonga
Where are missing observers?
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s government has been asked to investigate the disappearance of nationals aboard foreign fishing vessels in recent years.
Post-cyclone recovery continues
TONGA – Tonga’s disaster authorities say good progress is being made getting emergency shelter out to the remote villages lashed by Cyclone Gita.
Cyclone alert in New Caledonia
NEW CALEDONIA – A level 1 storm alert was issued for New Caledonia’s Isle of Pines yesterday as Tropical Cyclone Gita was forecast to pass tonight.