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Health

Children diagnosed with diabetes in Cook Islands

A six-year-old child has become the youngest person to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in the Cook Islands, and a 10-year-old with type 2 highlighting a growing public health crisis and the urgent need to address the country’s high rates of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).


Careless and drunk driving mirror last year’s crash rates

New crash figures from the Cook Islands Police indicate persistent problems with careless and drunk driving, mirroring 2024’s incident rates, while vehicle compliance improves thanks to increased enforcement.

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Features

‘We’ve waited long enough’: Landowner wins settlement after 20-year battle

A historic agreement between the government and landowners in Arorangi serves as a powerful reminder: check your leases, understand your rights and speak up.

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Economy

Cook Islands’ ‘rigid’ super fund model stands alone in the Pacific

The Cook Islands super fund operates a unique, restrictive hybrid pension model, a policy its leadership defends as essential for long-term financial security, despite public criticism and the more flexible, full-withdrawal schemes offered by its Pacific neighbours.

National

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Economy

MPs advise PERCA be a ‘standalone entity’

Members of Parliament have advised that the Public Expenditure Review Committee and Audit (PERCA) office should become a ‘standalone entity’ without government influence.


Local

Making a splash for a good cause

Apii Nikao dived into fundraising with a splash of creativity, hosting the island’s first-ever freestyle water bomb competition yesterday at Avatiu Harbour.

Sports

Athletics

Team athletics ‘proud’ after Pac Mini Games

Athletics Cook Islands recently expressed how proud they have been in a statement shared on social media after returning from the 2025 Pacific Mini Games held in Palau.


Culture

Cook Islands Emo Aito team ready for Tahiti Traditional Games debut

A group of 10 proud Cook Islands athletes has made history as the nation’s first-ever representation Emo Aito team to participate in the Heiva Tahiti Tu’aro Maohi Traditional Games in Tahiti from July 12 to 14.

Football

Fearless Avatiu at Raro round 1 football season

Avatiu will field a young and fearless side, full of promising talent from their U18 team at today’s round one of the 2025 Rarotonga Football Season as they face Puaikura at the CIFA Complex.

Rugby Union

Panthers hosts Bears on home ground

Arorangi Bears will be facing Tupapa Panthers for their first 2025 Rarotonga Club Rugby Union 15s season today.

Football

Matavera-Ngatangiia faces Nikao-Sokattak in season opener

The excitement continues this week as Round One of the 2025 Rarotonga Football Season rolls into its midweek matchups, featuring Matavera-Ngatangiia FC and Nikao-Sokattak FC going head-to-head across multiple divisions.

Opinion

Editorials

Some Reflections on the Sixtieth Birthday of the Cook Islands Constitution

Dr Alex Frame grew up in 1950s Tahiti where his father was a flying boat pilot in the days before landplanes, attending the old Arue School and Collège Paul Gauguin in Papeete.

Letters to the Editor

Letter: Ditching the Kiwi for the Dragon?

Dear Editor, There’s been a lot of noise lately. Social media threads, barbershop debates, and coconut wireless conversations about whether the Cook Islands should continue accepting aid from New Zealand. Some call it “dependence.” Others call it “support from family.” But I wonder, have we really taken the time to look at the full picture?

Editorials

Thomas Wynne: Voices from the taro patch

As a columnist, my inbox and Facebook Messenger are often full of people expressing their thoughts, disagreements, agreements, or sharing other ideas, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne.


Editorials

Te Ipukarea Society: Meet Tumu the pink octopus

Aere mai tātou on Saturday 19 July from 2pm at Aroʻa Beach (next to the Rarotongan Hotel) for a fun, family beach day organised by Ocean Ancestors—a collective of individuals, NGOs, and businesses united by a shared passion for protecting the ocean.

Features

Art

100% Wale: Deep powerful cultural presence

This year’s Te Maeva Nui celebrations will be defined by a powerful cultural presence from the islands of Pukapuka and Nassau, who are preparing to make a grand entrance in Rarotonga, bringing with them the heart and soul of their homeland.


Entertainment

Vaka Puaikura welcomes first-time performers for Te Maeva Nui 2025

Fifteen-year-old Maraea Wichman is one of the youngest dancers at team Arorangi’s Vaka Puaikura, marking her first year in participating in Te Maeva Nui.


Church Talk

Church Talk: Your story isn’t over, press on!

I want to continue this thought of “Press On” from my last article (six weeks ago) and look at this theme through the story of Joseph, writes Paul Kauri, General Superintendent AOG Cook Islands.

Business

Te Maeva Nui demand keeps seamstress busy

With the 2025 Te Maeva Nui cultural festival just around the corner, the sewing machine at Are Tui Kakau (The Sewing House) hasn’t stopped, and seamstress Evelyn O. Gonzales is feeling the pressure more than ever.

Art

Reo Māori Week celebrations end on a high note despite low turnout

Te Epetoma o te Reo Kūki ‘Āirani Māori – Cook Islands Māori Language Week – came to a lively close on Thursday, with spirited Tarere Imene Akateni (string band competition) performances lighting up the stage at Te Are Kariori Nui.

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Features

A name, a promise, a reunion: How a 1984 encounter led to a lasting bond

A New Zealand couple successfully reconnected with an Aitutaki family on social media, whom they befriended 40 years ago and whose baby inspired the name of their daughter, ahead of their planned September visit to the Cook Islands.

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.

Features

Stars align for unity: Matariki unites NZ and Cook Islands amidst tensions

Despite ongoing diplomatic tensions, the New Zealand High Commission in Rarotonga hosted the annual Matariki celebration, emphasising the shared cultural heritage and deep connections between the Cook Islands and New Zealand.


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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