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Health

TMO proposes tax increase on alcohol and sugary drinks

Te Marae Ora, Ministry of Health is working on a proposal to increase tax on alcohol and sugary drinks aiming to reduce the rate of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Cook Islands.


Cook Islands creates Pacific’s first ocean protection zone for whales

Cook Islands is creating the Pacific’s first Ra’ui To’ora, a dynamic ocean protection zone for whales, within its Marae Moana marine park to safeguard the migratory corridors of the endangered Oceania humpback whale.


Manihiki residents relieved as barge arrives to dismantle MV Grinna II wreck

Residents of Manihiki were relieved and pleased over the weekend as the long-awaited Coral Bay barge from Fiji arrived on Saturday, bringing with it a crew of 11 to begin dismantling the wreck of MV Grinna II.

Economy

Permanent Residence’s 2025 round expected soon

A new round of Permanent Residence (PR) applications is expected to open this year, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI).

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Economy

Freight hike set to drive up Cook Islands prices

Prices of everyday goods are set to rise after the freight shipping company servicing the Cook Islands route announced an increase in its freight rate.

National

Crime

Police attend to Takitumu crash

A 70-year-old woman crashed into a pole yesterday morning in Takitumu, causing a disturbance amidst minor traffic in the area.


Environment

PAC recommends Infrastructure CI secure funding for waste management initiatives

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended that Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) secure funding for waste management initiatives, in particular the incinerator project.

Sports

Football

Rarotonga Football Season kicks off in July

Football fever is set to return to Rarotonga as the 2025 Rarotonga Football Season officially kicks off on Wednesday, July 9.


Sports

BSP Cycle Series – 100km Race

Cook Islands Triathlon Association will be holding their annual 100km drafting race for the 5th time on Ariki Day July 4.


Rugby league

Cook Islands Rugby League tackles ball shortages with new partnership

The new official ball of the Cook Islands Rugby League made its debut on Thursday night (Cook Islands time) during the touring Cook Islands under-13 rugby league team’s match against the Kurnell Stingrays in Australia.

Other Sports

Pickleball Cook Islands launches membership drive with big growth plans

Pickleball Cook Islands (PCI) has officially launched its 2025 membership drive, with founder Matty Beasley confirming that sign-ups opened on June 2.

Football

CIFA Youth Coaching Certificate Course empowers local coaches

The growth and development of football in the Cook Islands took another positive step forward with the recent Youth Coaching Certificate Course, hosted by the Cook Islands Football Association (CIFA) on Rarotonga.

Badminton

Autism Cook Islands hosts first Badminton class

Autism Cook Islands recently conducted their inaugural training session in collaboration with Badminton Cook Islands late last month.

Opinion

Editorials

Te Tuhi Kelly: Root causes of our underperformance

Te Tuhi Kelly, Leader of the Progressive Party states, I'm on a roll as a friend of mine said recently, the pacemaker you have, certainly hasn't stopped the mouth from opening.

Editorials

Te Ipukarea Society: Snap and track- A photo friendly way to follow turtles

To help protect the ocean and its marine life, Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) recently teamed up with GROW Aitutaki to teach local youth about marine conservation through a turtle tracking project.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: National budget 2025/2026

Dear Editor, I am writing to congratulate government on its commitments to social welfare in the 2025/2026 national budget. Expansion of social welfare benefits including the Destitute Benefit, Newborn Allowance, Child Benefit and especially the extension of paid Maternity Leave and new paid Paternity Leave.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: A call for cultural protocols to protect our traditional titles

Kia Orana Editor, As Cook Islands Māori, our traditional leadership system—consisting of Ariki, Mataiapo, and Rangatira titles—is not just a cultural institution; it is the foundation of our identity, unity, and genealogical history.


Letters to the Editor

Letter: Mosquito threat at hospital

Dear Editor, This morning (yesterday) my wife and I journeyed up the hill to the hospital for a blood test.


Letters to the Editor

Letter: Religious freedom

I am a hard core local proud atheist. With this failed Christian Nation attempt, we as a nation are lucky, we dodged a bullet, and we should all be grateful to all the people that recognised a Christian nation is a mistake, they stood up and spoke out to say no.

Features

Features

Resort group invests in leadership

A leading Cook Islands resort group celebrated the graduation of 42 staff members who participated in a programme designed to enhance leadership potential and skills within the hospitality industry.


Features

‘Wearing my flag on my heart’: Cook Islander championing climate action in Samoa

For Cook Islander Ewan Cameron, living and working abroad doesn’t mean losing touch with home – in fact, it’s the opposite.


Features

Forecasting hope: Climate action for a more resilient Cook Islands

Cook Islanders have a close connection to their land and feel a sense of stewardship to protect it against the rapidly changing climate.

Culture

Poaru ‘Piu’ Poaru invested as Rupe Rangatira amidst family tensions

At 74 years old, Poaru “Piu” Poaru still rises early each morning to walk the hills and tend his crops.

Church Talk

Church Talk: God is in the process of shaping characters

Life in the Cook Islands is rich with beauty, community, culture and faith woven together. But in such a close-knit and vibrant place, it’s easy to mix up the line between living well and living godly, writes Pastor Eric Toleafoa of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Business

Smith knighted for decades of service to Cook Islands business and tourism

Air Rarotonga managing director Ewan Smith has been recognised in the New Zealand King’s Birthday Honours after he was knighted for services to Cook Islands business and tourism.

Pacific

National

Cook Islands lawyer heads law enforcement agency in Fiji

Cook Islands lawyer Lavi Rokoika has been appointed as the acting Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

Australia

Brown congratulates Australia’s PM on his re-election

Prime Minister Mark Brown has congratulated Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his re-election.

Economy

Cook Islands, French Polynesia advance Air Services Agreement

The Cook Islands and French Polynesia continue to deepen cooperation, convening the first technical meeting to review the Air Services Agreement (ASA) and further progress its development.


Pacific Islands

Trump signs 'deeply dangerous' order, fast-track deep sea mining

An ocean conservation non-profit has condemned the United States President's latest executive order aimed at boosting the deep sea mining industry.

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