More Top Stories
Solar power battery repairs ‘could take up to 12 months’
15 April 2024
Cook Islands poised for highest Pacific growth
29 April 2024
Alleged rapist in remand
27 April 2024
Ex-DPM appeals ‘excessive sentence’, hearing date set
26 April 2024
Police shortage leads to drop in checkpoints
9 April 2024
Sarakura declared new Penrhyn MP
16 March 2024
Govt says $1.3m invested in Lady Samoa charter
22 February 2024
Mass milkfish die-off in Penrhyn raises concerns
3 April 2024
Regulator defends Starlink users
9 April 2024
Aitutaki’s heritage preserved in new anthology
4 January 2024
Avatiu Eels retain Nines title
8 January 2024
Beddoes crowned top athlete
8 January 2024
NRL player Dargan dies in Aitutaki motorcycle crash
24 December 2023
‘Please heed the signs’: resident makes plea to tourists
20 December 2023
Cook Islands set to play in new World Series
10 October 2023
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
Corruption in the Cook Islands?
21 January 2023
Moana target 2025 World Cup
11 November 2022
Articles by Al Williams
Ambitious environment project aims to improve land, air and sea in Cook Islands
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Environment, National
An ambitious multi-million dollar six-year environment project aimed at reducing and mitigating environmental impacts of key development sectors in the Cook Islands will be launched on Rarotonga.
Rape accused vacates pleas and seeks review of charges
Monday 1 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man with a long criminal history, charged with multiple offences including rape and indecent assault, has vacated earlier pleas and asked for disclosure on the charges he is facing.
Court news
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A woman facing a theft as a servant charge has been excused from appearing in court.
Former cop enters guilty plea to money laundering in $118,000 deception case
Saturday 29 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A former police officer has pleaded guilty to money laundering in a case involving $118,000 of New Zealand Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funds.
Fleeing motorcyclist disqualified
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National
A 30-year-old man who fled the scene of a crash early on Sunday and was subsequently tracked down and charged with drink driving, has lost his driver licence for 12 months.
Drink-driving tourist with no helmet fled police on scooter
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A drink-driving tourist was not wearing a motorcycle helmet when he eluded police warning lights and took a U-turn before heading back to the resort where he had been initially told to stop
Heading to homework deadline as new school term nears
Friday 28 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Education, National
It hasn’t been all fun and games for holidaying school students who head back to studies next week.
Hiker in hospital after lengthy rescue effort
Thursday 27 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National
A local woman who slipped and fell while trekking through Rarotonga’s “steep and gnarly mountain terrain” on ANZAC Day was rescued in a mission stretching from late afternoon into the night.
Court briefs
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Drink driver A charge of careless driving was dropped against Salote Seneirewa but she was convicted of excess breath alcohol.
Spike in influenza like illnesses no concern to authorities
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Health, National
A spike in influenza like illnesses does not appear to have authorities concerned as a date for the rollout of vaccines has been confirmed by Te Marae Ora.
Raro’s ‘abysmal’ driving continues with more excess breath alcohol
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Crime, National
A 30-year-old man fled the scene of a crash early on Sunday and was subsequently tracked down and charged with drink driving.
New eatery proves to be a hit
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Features, Go Local
It’s a combined effort for a husband and wife team who have transformed a ramshackle facility into a retail and eatery outlet in the heart of Rarotonga.
Labour shortage a major concern: ADB
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Labour, or the desperate shortage of it, here and across the Pacific, is a major concern for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in delivering its latest regional economic update. Al Williams reports.
Court briefs
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
Guilty plea A man has admitted his guilt in assaulting a female. Johnny Faamelea Cyrus Hoeflich appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday where the court heard he assaulted a female at Black Rock on March 4. His lawyer asked for the matter to be adjourned for three weeks so probation could prepare a report. […]
Name suppression remains for woman accused of arson
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A 39-year-old woman has made a second appearance in Court charged with arson in connection to a house fire in Arorangi on March 12.
$79k footpath near completion
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Local, National
A $79,000 construction project of a footpath between Raro Fried Chicken and the Empire Bridge is due for completion this week.
Diversify travel offerings and invest in infrastructure: ANZ
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands along with other Pacific nations require not only hard but soft infrastructure investment such as telecommunications according to an economic outlook report into sustainable tourism.
Man to pay $17k, court orders
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man charged with careless driving will pay $17,000 in reparation following an appearance in court.
12 months probation for drink driving
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man caught drink driving while disqualified has been ordered to serve 12 months of probation and disqualified from driving for a year.
Amiri case adjourned
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, National
A man facing an excess breath alcohol charge was due to be sentenced on other matters when his case was adjourned in the Criminal Court.