More Top Stories
‘Budget prioritises vulnerable’
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Alleged rapist in remand
27 April 2024
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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
Mass milkfish die-off in Penrhyn raises concerns
3 April 2024
Regulator defends Starlink users
9 April 2024
Cook Islands set to play in new World Series
10 October 2023
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
Moana target 2025 World Cup
11 November 2022
Articles by Matthew Littlewood
Tourism organisations to be updated on economic outlook
Wednesday 16 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation is hosting a state of tourism update this morning with speakers from across the industry contributing.
Cook Islands United Nations bid backed by New Zealand Green Party
Wednesday 16 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
New Zealand Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling for the Cook Islands to become a full member nation of the United Nations without having to relinquish dual New Zealand citizenship.
Stricter rules for e-cigarettes proposed in Amendment Bill
Tuesday 15 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Health, Local, National
A review of the Health Act is about to take place, with new rules for electronic cigarettes likely to be proposed.
Visitor numbers dwindle
Tuesday 15 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in
Tourism numbers are beginning their slide as the industry braces for a tough summer. The visitor arrivals for October, released yesterday, show that there has been a total of 12,803 arrivals, down by 6.1 per cent from September, and well down on July’s peak for the year of 15,616.
‘No safety risk’: Airport waiting for funding to swap cracked slabs
Saturday 12 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, National
The Cook Islands Airport Authority is adamant there is ‘no safety risk’ from the hairline cracks in the newly laid concrete slabs on the runway as they wait funding to replace them.
Moment of truth at COP27
Saturday 12 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Environment, National
The 27th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 27) comes at a time of climate crisis, and the Cook Islands took a delegation to the event in Egypt. Matthew Littlewood talks to those interested in the conference’s outcome.
Creating safe space for men to discuss mental health issues
Friday 11 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Health, Local, National
Cook Islands National Youth Council (CINYC) wants young and old men to sit down and talk about mental health, and is providing the space to do so.
Flights down by 30 per cent from peak as tourist operators prepare for ‘graveyard month’
Friday 11 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Economy, National, Travel
Rarotonga-bound flights and seat numbers could be down by more than 30 per cent on pre-Covid-19 times during the December to March period.
Doubts over meeting July deadline for exploitation regulations
Thursday 10 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Environment, National
The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) is unsure whether the International Seabed Authority (ISA) will complete its rules and regulations for deep-sea mining by July next year as was originally planned.
18 months’ probation for resort theft
Thursday 10 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
An Aitutaki man who stole more than $5900 from a resort over a period of 10 months has been sentenced to 18 months’ probation.
Tough low season looms - Operators concerned with anticipated lack of NZ flights
Thursday 10 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, National, Travel
Tourism operators are wary of Air New Zealand’s new flight schedule for the December to March period.
Runway project ‘in limbo’ as Airport Authority awaits engineers’ report
Wednesday 9 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Local, National
The chief executive of the Cook Islands Airport Authority is unable to give replacement costs for several new concrete slabs laid on the runway which have been found to be faulty in a multi-million-dollar project that stretches back nearly two years.
ANZ warns Cook Islands customers of online scam
Wednesday 9 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Local, National
ANZ is urging customers to be wary online as a new scam aiming to trick people into handing over their details was circulating on social media.
Cook Islands PM calls out other nations at climate conference
Wednesday 9 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, Environment, National, Regional
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has called on the larger countries to fulfill their climate obligations, and reiterated his support for sustainable deep-sea mining as the 27th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 27) gets underway in Egypt.
Cracks detected in new slabs at airport runway
Tuesday 8 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National
The Rarotonga International Airport resealing project has hit a bit of a speedbump, after several of the new slabs were found to have been faulty.
Crown calls for longer sentence for rape and indecent assault charges
Monday 7 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
The Crown is seeking a longer sentence for a man who repeatedly raped and assaulted a then-14-year-old girl.
Remembering Cyclone Martin: ‘Many took that flight and never came back’
Saturday 5 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, Local, Memory Lane, Outer Islands
It was a cyclone like no other, and its impact is still felt by those who lived through it. Rebecca Hosking-Ellis talks to Cook Islands News senior journalist Matthew Littlewood about her memories of Cyclone Martin and the toll it took on the Manihiki community.
Fifteen officials representing Cooks at COP27 in Egypt
Saturday 5 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Economy, Environment, National
The Cook Islands has taken a delegation of 15 people to a major Climate Change Conference in Egypt, but is still remaining schtum on how much it is costing.
High-profile trial likely to start in second half of 2023
Saturday 5 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, Features, National
The high-profile trial of a senior politician and two former prominent civil servants is likely to take four weeks and begin late next year.
Judges reserve decision on Titikaveka petition appeal
Friday 4 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Cook Islands United Party candidate Margharet Matenga’s petition that several voters in the Titikaveka electorate were ineligible and should not have been counted ‘is disenfranchising, and should be struck out’, a lawyer for elected MP Sonny Williams argues.
