Top Headlines

National

Vodafone Cook Islands outage leaves local customers fuming

A “power outage” on Saturday morning at its Aroa station disrupted key Vodafone Cook Islands services in Rarotonga and the outer islands, leaving frustrated customers without internet, landline and mobile data services over the weekend.


Strong first quarter fuels optimism for Cook Islands tourism industry

International economists and leading resorts say the Cook Islands is on track for a record year in arrivals, buoyed by strong first-quarter figures.

National

Constitution Amendment Bill public consultations planned for Pa Enua

The Parliamentary Select Committee handling the three Constitution Amendment Bills is planning to conduct public consultations for Ngaputoru- Mitiaro, Atiu and Mauke.

Editorials

Ruta Mave: Broken promise- Government reneges on free water pledge

Residential water meters are not to measure what we use, it is how we will pay for government’s monumental blunders and excuses, writes Ruta Mave.

National

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Economy

Secrecy and legal doubts cloud Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023

The Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023 has been the talk of the town since it was revealed a week ago that the proposed Cook Islands legislation, drafted by a US-based company, could validate hacking into any account or system in the world.


Local

RAC donates proceeds from Thanksgiving Service to Kōrero O Te ‘Ōrau

The Religious Advisory Council (RAC) held its annual Thanksgiving Prayer Service at the National Auditorium on the evening of Sunday, April 14.

Sports

Rugby league

Eels retain Minor Premiership title

The final weekly rounds of the Cook Islands Rugby League Rarotonga 13s competition have concluded with a flourish, leaving fans electrified as the top four premier men’s teams solidified their positions for the upcoming playoff rounds.


Sports

Young tennis stars earn medals

Tennis Cook Islands junior development team returned home this week with two gold and a bronze medal from the East Pacific Qualifiers held in Tahiti last weekend.

Other Sports

CISNOC representatives gain valuable insights at ONOC General Assembly

Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC) president Hugh Graham, senior vice president Romani Katoa and acting secretary general Owen Lewis attended the annual Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) General Assembly held in Nadi, Fiji last month.

Cricket

CICA bolsters coaching staff

Cook Islands Cricket Association (CICA) has appointed former Samoan international Ian West as its New Zealand development officer and national team’s assistant coach.

Opinion

Editorials

Ruta Mave: Broken promise- Government reneges on free water pledge

Residential water meters are not to measure what we use, it is how we will pay for government’s monumental blunders and excuses, writes Ruta Mave.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: Due process claim ‘disingenuous’

Dear Editor, I read Tim Arnold’s comments in the paper on Wednesday with much interest and disbelief (Arnold denies Crown Law exclusion in drafting controversial crypto bill, Cook Islands News, April 17).

Letters to the Editor

Letter: Is religion relevant today?

Dear Editor, Our modern society likes to proclaim itself to be multicultural and secular, and the direction seems to be a future without old-fashioned religious ballast where science is the tool for constant progress and prosperity, happiness for everything and everyone.


Editorials

Thomas Wynne: Crypto Bill- A deep dive into murky waters?

It is reasonable that today so many Cook Islanders are asking questions around the process that got the Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill into Parliament and currently before a Select Committee, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.

Features

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Economy

Secrecy and legal doubts cloud Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023

The Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023 has been the talk of the town since it was revealed a week ago that the proposed Cook Islands legislation, drafted by a US-based company, could validate hacking into any account or system in the world.


Features

Balancing rights and culture: ‘Hard Talks’ panel discusses progress and challenges

Thought-provoking candid conversations on human rights or tika’anga tangata on the evolving relationship of the LGBTQI Anuanua rights in the Cook Islands shed light on the challenges, progress, and aspirations for individuals in the community and abroad.

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Art

Out and proud: Miss Thunderhips shines in celebration of diversity

In a celebration of Anuanua Week’s talent, diversity, and inclusivity, the electrifying Miss Thunderhips competition took centre stage on Friday night featuring LGBTQ+ contestants, who showcased their talents captivating the enthusiastic full-house audience.

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Features

Faith and family fuel new bakery

Avarua Bakery has ventured into a brand new and exciting bakery retail business after the Covid-19 pandemic forced closure of their previous retail venture.

Premium content
Art

Cook Islands playwright tackles taboo topics in new production

Award-winning Cook Islands playwright Teherenui Koteka is sparking conversations about sexuality, safe sex, and healthy relationships for Pacific youth with her latest project, which will be showcased in Rarotonga next week.

Pacific

Pacific Islands

Prolonged drought impacting food, water across Micronesia

Extreme droughts in the Western Pacific region are expected to persist over the next three months.

New Caledonia

New Caledonian pro-independence activist issues dire warning to France

A pro-independence activist in New Caledonia is warning France to immediately halt planned constitution amendments or face "war".

Regional

Electoral Amendment Bill: Samoa will not be governed by outsiders

Samoa’s Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries La'auli Leuatea Schmidt says the country would not be ruled by outsiders, should a change to the electoral act go through.

Regional

Solomon Islands PM retains seat, vote counting continues

Solomon Islands’ pro-China Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has retained his seat in the national election, according to local media reports, but it will take days to know if his party has won enough support to form the next government.


Pacific Islands

Teen pregnancy is high in Pacific countries, so what are the options for young mums?

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Rugby league

Moana target 2025 World Cup

11 November 2022