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.
Dairy owners say they've had enough
Dairy and liquor store owners in Auckland want cigarette companies to pay for security to protect them from attacks.
Police getting prepared for PNG's national elections
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner says provincial and divisional police commanders will have support from the national headquarters in managing potential hot-spots during the elections.
Vanuatu kava growers chase the US dollar
VANUATU – Kava growers in Vanuatu are working hard to produce more noble varieties of kava for a fast growing market in America.
Food queue barriers amount to torture
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Amnesty International says a barrier installed at Manus Island’s detention centre in Papua New Guinea could be tantamount to torture if it is making it difficult for detainees to access food.
Fiji looks to Singapore
FIJI – The Fiji government is looking to Singapore for ideas on how to better improve its urban planning blueprint.
MP's parole bids rejected
VANUATU – One of 14 former Vanuatu MPs jailed for corruption says his application for parole on medical grounds has been rejected four times.
Temaru has no regrets
FRENCH POLYNESIA – An advisor of French Polynesia’s pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru says he has no regrets about the failed campaign to get him to stand in the French presidential election.
Papua's MSG inclusion talks 'fruitful'
WEST PAPUA – The Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman Manasseh Sogavare says his talks in Papua New Guinea were fruitful, with West Papua membership and labour mobility issues covered.
Officials check out Tonga stadium
TONGA – A delegation from World Rugby is visiting Tonga this week and will assess the state of Teufaiva National Stadium.
Nauru deports security officers
NAURU – The Nauruan government has detained two Wilson Security officers who were employed at the Australian-run centre on the island.
Tongan teachers still hitting students
TONGA – A children’s advocacy group in Tonga says there needs to be more training for teachers about appropriate disciplinary techniques after an 11-year-old student was severely beaten and hospitalised.
Verbal abuse started brawl
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A refugee on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island says the fight that broke out between detainees and guards in one of the detention centre’s mess halls was sparked by verbal abuse from security personnel. The detainees objected to a barrier erected around the serving area which they say caused them to queue for up to an hour to receive their meals.
New Zealand cities going underwater
New Zealand cities including Christchurch and Wellington could be inundated by global warming-induced rising sea levels, according to data from a National Geographic documentary.
Low expectations for small town kids
The head girl of a Kaikohe college says a local approach is needed to tackle destructive youth behaviour in her home town.
Poll shows preference for Chinese
A group representing Maori economic interests is concerned about a poll showing a preference for schoolchildren to learn Chinese.
Labour's Maori MPs to go 'electorate only'
In a surprise move Labour’s Maori seat MPs have opted to stand as electorate MPs only, and not go on the party list.
Caution on use of Maori words
Iwi leaders have raised concerns about the risks of using Māori words in legislation without proper context.
Tonga appoints first ombudsman
TONGA – Tonga can finally say it has an Ombudsman after years of legislative preparation.
Resettlement deal appears underway
PAPUA NEW GUINEA – Officials from the US Department of Homeland Security are set to begin fingerprinting refugees on Manus Island and Nauru in preparation for resettlement in America under the US-Australia refugee deal.
Students living in tents as rental crises deepens
A graduate student spent a night sheltering in Victoria University's library with her partner, amid reports of students couch-surfing, sleeping on floors and living in tents while they struggle to find homes.