More Top Stories
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’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Parliament’s 12 sitting days sufficient for business: Clerk
24 September 2024
Tapaitau and Charlie-Puna released to ‘family jobs’
21 September 2024
Police apprehend four juveniles in connection with motorcycle thefts
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
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
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Pacific
Roadshow not consultation
Non-government organisations are frustrated with the Cook Islands government seabed mineral consultations that are being held in New Zealand, calling for a 10-year moratorium to allow for independent research and capacity building within the Cook Islands.
USP Student body represents 14,000 students
The University of the South Pacific Students’ Association (USPSA) from 14 campuses spanning 12 member countries convened in Rarotonga yesterday representing the voice of 14,000 students.
Mountain top frogs face troubled future
PACIFIC VIEWPOINT By Paul Oliver and Michael Lee ABC’s The Conversation At night, the mountain forests of New Guinea come alive with weird buzzing and beeping calls made by tiny frogs, some no bigger than your little fingernail.
Nations confirm their Games
FIJI – Both Vanuatu and Tonga have this week officially confirmed that the respective events awarded to them by the Pacific Games Council will be staged in the two different countries, as per the agreements their respective governments signed.
Raunchy video sparks uproar in PNG
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A Papua New Guinean rapper’s sexually suggestive music video has highlighted the conflict between an older generation’s traditional standards of modesty and a desire for modernity from the nation’s young people.
Opeloge thankful for support
SAMOA – Ele Opeloge has thanked supporters in Samoa and abroad for contributing to a fundraising campaign honouring her Olympic success.
Businesses offered New Zealand opportunities
NEW ZEALAND – A number of businesses from around the Pacific region are in Auckland creating partnerships to try to help them break into the New Zealand market.
Claims father threw missing children into river
FIJI – Fiji police have managed to recover the body of a three-year-old boy who was one of three young children allegedly thrown into the Labasa River by their father.
No reprieve expected for 'cooking' coral reefs
AUSTRALIA – Cyclone Debbie is not likely to give coral reefs off Cairns and Port Douglas any reprieve from coral bleaching, according to reef officials. And the weather bureau has not forecast any monsoonal activity on the horizon for the Far North.
Heavy rain forecast in cyclone's wake
AUSTRALIA – Queenslanders are waking up to a huge clean up following the “monster” cyclone Debbie, as the now ex-tropical cyclone still brings heavy rain as it works its way through the state.
North Queensland takes a hit
AUSTRALIA – Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has activated a disaster response plan after a powerful cyclone pummelled the north of Queensland.
Flosse calls for sacking
FRENCH POLYNESIA – French Polynesia’s broadcaster has issued a statement to support a journalist whom a convicted political figure demanded to be sacked.
Carbon-rich soil lauded
PACIFIC – A Pacific scientist says boosting the carbon content in soil is crucial to helping small island states become more resilient to climate change.
Police rampage claimed
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A human rights group in Papua New Guinea is accusing police of burning down 150 houses in a village near the Porgera Gold Mine, during an early morning raid over the weekend.
Tonga expects Teufaiva Stadium to host July rugby tests
TONGA – The Tonga Rugby Union expects Teufaiva National Stadium will finally be ready to host international rugby in July. The ‘Ikale Tahi have not played on home soil since 2009 and a scheduled home test against Wales in June has been moved to New Zealand because the field was deemed unfit for play. Representatives from World Rugby and Turf Management New Zealand visited Nuku’alofa last week to assess the playing field. Tonga Rugby CEO Fe’ao Vunipola said the governing body has given them the go ahead to begin preparations for hosting Samoa and Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup in July, pending a final sign-off. “They were all surprised when we all turned up to Teufaiva – the whole field now is green – it’s all green,” he said. “The grass has grown, it’s so healthy, because we had been having rain for the last few weeks and even the turf management consultant from New Zealand was surprised by how quick the grass had grown, so there’s no major work to be done.” “They will be mowing it, fertilising it and fixing little patches wherever they feel they need to but overall there’s no need for a huge improvement to be done, like they anticipated before,” Vunipola said. Teufaiva National Stadium is being refurbished for Tonga’s hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games but had faced numerous delays, while the Games Organising Committee and the government have clashed on multiple occasions. Work at the Teufaiva site has since begun and the Papua New Guinea government has committed over US$15 million towards the project. Despite the frustration of the ‘Ikale Tahi being deprived a home venue for two full Rugby World Cup cycles, Vunipola was keen to look forward and said it was an “awesome feeling” for the Tongan rugby community. “I think for us our priority was always to bring a game to here and to qualify for the 2019 World Cup,” he said. “Which by playing the two important matches here gives us more chance of winning it this year because that’s the only way we can qualify for 2019 is to win the Pacific Nations Cup this year.” “People have priorities, the government have the people of Tonga as their priority but now we are just grateful that they are lending us a big hand to help us out because rugby union, as you know, is the Tongan national game – has been and will always.” Vunipola said upgrades to other facilities at Teufaiva will also be carried out in the coming weeks. “Priority is the playing area. The grandstand work, changing rooms and stuff, is, I think, straightforward. It only involves the replacement of plumbing, fittings and stuff and then doing some decoration work to the grandstand.” - RNZI
Samoans now obtaining surgical needs in India
SAMOA – Samoa has begun sending patients needing medical treatment overseas to India instead of New Zealand.
Fa'afafine to consult with media on coverage
SAMOA - The Samoa Fa’afafine Association(SFA) is organising a media summit this week in an effort to have fair, accurate, and inclusive news coverage of their issues and stories in the media in the future.
Samoa considering taxing church ministers
SAMOA – Samoa’s government is eyeing up the millions of tala it will collect from church ministers if they are required to pay taxes.
Oceans conference to be 'game-changer'
FIJI – Fiji says it’s crucial that members of the United Nations reach a consensus at this year’s Ocean Conference, saying it could be a game-changer for the future of the Pacific.
New coach heartened by Fijian effort
FIJI – Fiji coach Christophe Gamel remains proud of his players despite two errors gifting New Zealand a 2-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Lautoka at the weekend.
Potential Philippines Isis threat
AUSTRALIA – The Islamic State terrorist group could establish a caliphate in the southern Philippines, according to Australia’s Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Queensland braces for the worst
AUSTRALIA – Tropical Cyclone Debbie intensified to category four as it hit the north Queensland coast yesterday morning