More Top Stories
Alleged rapist in remand
27 April 2024
Rarotonga residents push back on water tariff plan
12 April 2024
High hopes for chronic patients
4 May 2024
Solar power battery repairs ‘could take up to 12 months’
15 April 2024
Cook Islands poised for highest Pacific growth
29 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 Melina Etches
Cook Islanders enter New Zealand’s local elections
Thursday 15 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Politics
A number of Cook Islanders have entered New Zealand’s local body elections to be held from September 16 to October 8, as candidates.
Vaka Motu heads for Raro
Wednesday 14 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Rarotonga will receive Vaka Motu Okeanos Waa’Qab which departed Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, on September 10 for the 3000 nautical mile voyage estimated to take up to a month.
Taking Cook Islands fashion to the world
Wednesday 14 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Culture, National
Emerging fashion designer Toka Toka landed in Paris, France for the first time this week to showcase unique Cook Islands fashion designs using cultural fabric and material.
Ei tiare maori for the Queen
Tuesday 13 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
A special image of Queen Elizabeth II photographed at Buckingham Palace adorned with two tiare maori ei all the way from the Cook Islands has surfaced following Her Majesty’s death last week.
Church launches 200-year Gospel project
Monday 12 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Over 3000 people are expected to attend the 200-year commemoration of the arrival of the Gospel to Arorangi which will be celebrated next year on July 26 and 27.
Remembering Queen Elizabeth II’s historic Cook Islands visit
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
As tributes continue to pour in for Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, aged 96, Cook Islands News senior journalist Melina Etches look back at Her Majesty’s first and only visit in her remarkable 70-year reign.
Literacy Week a hit in the north
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
This week schools in the Cook Islands celebrated literacy as the foundation of all learning with a range of activities in support of International Literacy Day.
Creating and promoting First Aid awareness
Saturday 10 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Kind-hearted members of the community chipped in what they could which added up to over $600 cash for the Cook Islands Red Cross Society promoting and creating awareness for yesterday’s World First Aid Day.
China donates wet weather, safety gears
Friday 9 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
Cook Islands and China marked 25 years of formal diplomatic relations with another shipment of equipment and machinery donated by the Asian superpower.
Wear red to support First Aid Day
Friday 9 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Cook Islands will today mark the World First Aid Day, which is an international day recognising the importance of knowing first aid.
Always in our hearts
Friday 9 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
Cook Islands has joined the rest of the world to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II who died early yesterday at the age of 96.
455 attend mammogram screening
Thursday 8 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Over a period of 10 days 455 women have been screened at the Rarotonga Hospital for the early detection of breast cancer.
Growing demand for taro
Wednesday 7 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
There is growing demand for local taro in New Zealand and more growers are needed to increase the volume of the produce which is airfreighted out once a month.
St Joseph’s students show off their whacky hairdos for Literacy Week
Wednesday 7 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Crazy Hair Day at St Joseph’s Primary School had a good number of students including Lylah Tommy (left) Tama Maxwell, Alesi Ralulu and Lukarose Akava sporting creative and whacky hair styles.
Water stations pass E.coli tests
Tuesday 6 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Health, National
Rarotonga water authority To Tatou Vai (TTV) has taken over the role of testing community water stations from Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health.
Literacy Week: Schools celebrate reading and writing
Tuesday 6 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Education, National
Apii Avarua students settled comfortably under the shade of a large mango tree yesterday for a “buddy class reading” session to start off the Literacy Week.
Blessed to receive: Church donates to those who help the vulnerable
Monday 5 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Non-governmental organisations who service the vulnerable in the community felt “blessed” to have received donations from the Apostolic Church.
Father’s Day christening for Isaia
Monday 5 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Local, National
Yesterday’s Father’s Day was extra special for the William and Heather families with the christening of baby Isaia Geoffrey Heather, who was born just over five weeks ago on July 27 in New Zealand.
Ethical research: New safeguards to protect us
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National
The Cook Islands has established a new Research Ethics Committee to ensure the highest possible ethical standards are met, protecting those participating in research in the nation.
Aitutaki Liftoff aims to become South Pacific’s biggest fitness festival
Friday 2 September 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Features
The Aitutaki Liftoff – the island’s biggest fitness festival – kicked off its all-inclusive event that promotes health and wellness for everyone, last weekend.
