Editor's Picks
Eggelton appointed acting CEO
15 January 2022
Sun, sand and plenty of fun
17 January 2022
LETTERS: ‘Prison life is not luxurious’
14 January 2022
Emotional reopening to Cook Islands
14 January 2022
Iconic café closes down
12 January 2022
Concerns raised over inmate’s health
11 January 2022
New air link between Cook Islands and Niue
12 January 2022
Vaccine certificate delay “frustrating”
11 January 2022
Air Moana to fly across French Polynesia
11 January 2022
In brief: News from around the Pacific
10 January 2022
Panthers and Bulldogs reign supreme
10 January 2022
Fresh water for Vaka voyagers
10 January 2022
Cook Islander of the Year gives humble thanks
8 January 2022
Airline enjoys festive boost
8 January 2022
LETTERS: A humble plea for help
8 January 2022
The story of Tapuaetai
7 January 2022
Govt announces new health measures
7 January 2022
Locals living overseas share Covid concerns
6 January 2022
Reduced health clinics when border reopens
6 January 2022
Heat stroke in dogs
5 January 2022
In brief: News from the Pacific
5 January 2022
Ebadot paves way for team victory
3 January 2022
Bangladesh boss Blackcaps on day two
2 January 2022
Ringing in 2022 with celebratory music and fun
31 December 2021
Business support extended
31 December 2021
Government unfazed by Omicron in NZ
31 December 2021
YES Programme helps budding entrepreneurs
31 December 2021
Chief economist ‘resigns’
30 December 2021
Cops go on Christmas ticket frenzy
30 December 2021
Ash cloud from Tongan volcanic eruption spreads
29 December 2021
Tonga's PM names new government
29 December 2021
Pineapple in season
24 December 2021
There is more to Christmas than Christmas
24 December 2021
Call for voyaging knowledge to be shared
23 December 2021
Pasifika receive New Year's honours
30 December 2021
Articles by Melina Etches
The search for Te Mire Atu composer
Monday 17 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, National
In celebration of Cook Islands compositions, new and experienced song writers are encouraged to register for the Mire Atu composer’s competition in March.
Vendors facing confusion over health measures
Monday 17 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Confusion regarding the ‘recommended’ or ‘compulsory’ new regulations of the wearing of masks at the Punanga Nui Market on Saturday was widespread.
Cautious pineapple sellers take break following border reopening
Friday 14 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Expressing caution with the reopening of the borders yesterday, John and Anne Maoate – Rarotonga’s well-known pineapple farmers – will be taking a break from selling their popular pineapples and fresh produce from the road side in Avatiu.
Family members and vaccinated travelers arrive in Rarotonga
Friday 14 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Travel
The arrival terminal at the Rarotonga international airport was a flurry of activity yesterday afternoon for the first flight to mark the border reopening from Auckland, with masked tourism operators and families waiting to welcome guests and their loved ones back.
Tea-keys claim Beach Games’ first gold medal
Thursday 13 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
The Tea-keys finished the beach handball competition at the Cook Islands Beach Games 2022 unbeaten, claiming the annual event’s first gold medal.
Cook Islander gains PhD in sports and exercise science
Thursday 13 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
One of the first Cook Islanders to gain doctorate degree in sports and exercise science wants to investigate acceptable and effective methods of implementing exercise programmes into Pacific islands communities.
Rarotonga ‘masking up’ for border reopening
Thursday 13 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
After five months of a quiet and deserted arrival terminal at the Rarotonga international airport, this afternoon the borders will reopen and the first plane full of passengers will troop in from Auckland, New Zealand – since August 16, 2021.
Tea-keys seal top spot after day two of Beach Games competition
Wednesday 12 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Other Sports, Sports
Day two of the Beach Games 2022 handball competition saw another round of entertaining matches.
Ngatangiia’s 60+ residents celebrate the New Year
Wednesday 12 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
To celebrate the New Year in style, 120 residents in the village of Ngatangiia aged 60 and over, enjoyed a night of entertainment and tropical island kaikai last Friday night.
Matavera Kumiti Oire donates face masks to village churches
Wednesday 12 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
The Matavera Kumiti Oire (Matavera Disaster Risk Management Puna) have donated packs of disposable face masks to the five churches in the village to assist with the new regulations that come into effect when the international borders reopen tomorrow.
Beach Games’ thrills and spills
Tuesday 11 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Sports, Volleyball
Beach handball kicked off the Cook Islands Beach Games 2022 with fun, sand and spills yesterday afternoon at the Nikao beach courts.
Vaccine certificate delay "frustrating"
Tuesday 11 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Extensive and frustrating delays marred the issuing of the free vaccination certificates at the National Auditorium Domes yesterday morning right through to the afternoon.
Church agrees to allow unvaxed members to attend Sunday services
Tuesday 11 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Unvaccinated members of the Avarua CICC (Cook Islands Christian Church) are overjoyed at the decision of its committee to allow them to continue to attend church services when the country’s border reopens this Thursday.
No medical exemption for unvaxed visitors: TMO
Monday 10 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health (TMO) have said no medical exemptions will be given for unvaxed visitors, laying down grounds for unvaccinated tourists and Cook Islanders when the country’s border reopens this Thursday.
JP retires after two decades of service
Saturday 8 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features, Memory Lane
After 20 years on the bench, Justice of the Peace (JP) Rima David retired from court duties in September last year. She shares her experience with senior journalist Melina Etches.
The story of Tapuaetai
Friday 7 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Entertainment, Features
Driven by the passion to share historic Aitutaki stories in a ‘modern way’, a proud Cook Islander has written a book to inspire others to rekindle their memories of the stories they used to hear in their young days back on the island.
Training on how to perform Covid-19 tests underway
Friday 7 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Tourism operators, private and public service sectors have started training on how to perform Rapid Antigen Tests (R.A.T) for Covid-19, in preparation for the opening of the borders next week on January 13.
Reduced health clinics when border reopens
Thursday 6 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
In preparation for the reopening of the border next week Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health have released a series of new rules, regulations, and information to keep the public informed of the health measures and general public guidelines designed to keep the community safe.
Eastern Stars end 2021 with mixed netball tournament
Wednesday 5 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Netball, Sports
For the first time, the Ngatangiia Matavera Eastern Stars Netball Club hosted a successful mixed netball competition with the participation of 12 teams.
Improving coordination of emergency services
Wednesday 5 January 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
To strengthen the National Institutional Arrangement for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) in the Cook Islands, a contract was awarded to and signed with lawyer Tai Nicholas’ consulting firm a week ago.
