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 Matthew Littlewood
Petitions alleging treating goes to Court of Appeal
Thursday 3 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, National, Politics
Petitions accusing independent candidates of treating should not have been struck out, lawyer for the Cook Islands United Party argues.
Rarotonga-bound Jetstar passengers vent frustration following Auckland incident
Wednesday 2 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Travel
Rarotonga-bound Jetstar passengers have been offloaded causing frustration among the airline’s customers.
Crown Law appeals ‘discharge without conviction’ ruling
Tuesday 1 November 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
The Crown Law has taken a decision from a High Court Judge to discharge a man without conviction for an incident where he slapped three women on the buttocks with a machete to the Court of Appeal.
From the pristine environment to stray dogs: Cook Islands visitors reveal their likes and dislikes
Sunday 30 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, In Depth
Tourists in the Cook Islands are still spending more and staying longer than before, but many have concerns about the environment and public infrastructure. Senior journalist Matthew Littlewood digs into the latest Cook Islands Visitor Survey report, and talks to visitors along the way.
Trust formed to eradicate pests on uninhabited atoll of Manuae
Friday 28 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National, Outer Islands
A new charitable trust with the ambition of turning the uninhabited atoll of Manuae into a pest-free sanctuary has just been established.
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority ‘concerned’ with New Zealand’s call for deep sea mining ban
Friday 28 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) will not back New Zealand’s call for conditional moratorium on deep sea mining in international waters.
Rape accused to be sentenced
Thursday 27 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
A Mangaia man has pleaded guilty to numerous sexual offences and will be sentenced next month.
Pensioner to serve probation for drunk driving
Thursday 27 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime, National
A pensioner will serve more than a year’s probation for crashing a rental car into a power pole.
More cruise ships to visit the Cook Islands
Thursday 27 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, Travel
Cruise ships are returning to the Cook Islands, with more expected to arrive this weekend.
Guilty verdict for man who challenged excess blood alcohol charge
Thursday 27 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
A man who attempted to defend himself against charges of driving with excess blood alcohol has lost his case.
Woman discharged without conviction after pleading guilty to assaulting ‘cyberbully’
Tuesday 25 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
A woman who punched someone who had allegedly been cyberbullying her has been discharged without conviction.
Jail time for domestic assault
Tuesday 25 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Court, Crime
A man with a history of domestic violence has been sentenced to eight months imprisonment and warned not to ‘sweep his behaviour under the carpet’.
Remembering Cyclone Martin: ‘It still makes me cry today’
Saturday 22 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Features, Memory Lane
Cyclone Martin was one of the most devastating events in the Cook Islands history, but nearly 25 years on, Niki Rattle remembers the resilience of the Manihiki community. The former secretary of the Cook Islands Red Cross and current Cook Islands Ombudsman talks to Matthew Littlewood about the event.
Inflation rate ‘ambiguous’: Change in overall prices from June 2021 to June 2022 was 7.5 per cent
Friday 21 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) is likely to revise the rate of inflation for the Cook Islands, but prices have already increased markedly over the past year. Matthew Littlewood reports.
Tourists told to cover up
Thursday 20 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in
Tourists are being told to cover up, after complaints from locals about inappropriate attire.
Turtle tour guidelines ‘not enough’, says environment group
Thursday 20 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Environment, National
New guidelines for turtle tours in Rarotonga from Cook Islands Tourism have been released to Cook Islands News, but an environmental advocacy group says more needs to be done.
Firearms training to take place
Wednesday 19 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National
Police are warning people near Nikao about likely noise, as several of their staff undergo firearms training.
Mike Pero in airline talks with MFEM
Wednesday 19 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Business, Economy, National
Ministry of Finance and Economic Management has confirmed it has been in discussions with businessman Mike Pero about a renewed interest in developing an airline.
Covid-19 ‘normalised’: TMO
Tuesday 18 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Health, National
The Cook Islands is likely to let its Covid-19 restrictions lapse at the end of this month.
Pa Enua receives funding for climate change projects
Saturday 15 October 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Outer Islands
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta yesterday announced new climate finance for the Pa Enua (outer islands) in the Cook Islands during her visit to Manihiki.
