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Features

Art

Pa Enua arriving in force to celebrate Te Maeva Nui

Avatiu Harbour is expected to come alive with colour and excitement this Sunday morning as more than 600 passengers from the Northern Pa Enua begin arriving in Rarotonga to join in the 2025 Te Maeva Nui celebrations, commemorating 60 years of self-governance in the Cook Islands.

Art

Te Maeva Nui kicks off next week with float parade

The official Te Maeva Nui programme begins next week on Friday, July 25 with the Float Parade through Avarua, starting at 11am.

Seeking the last puzzle piece

Anthony Francis says he has settled in to life in the Cook Islands he has a house he loves, a job that he enjoys and the sun on his back. All he needs now, he says, is a boat. After three months of living at Arorangi, the new Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) Building Centre […]

Features

Taste of Thailand in Rarotonga

Asian fusion restaurant Bamboo Jacks is officially open. The Tupapa restaurant opened its doors to the public on Thursday, but owner Jack Cooper says it was an unpublicised soft opening so as to ease staff into it. The chefs, a husband and wife who go by the nicknames of Bear and Oil, arrived from Eastern […]

Features

Atmosphere study a snapshot in time

Rarotonga was this week a stopping point for a group of jet-setting US scientists undertaking to produce the most detailed profile of the atmosphere yet. They arrived on Wednesday evening in an $85 million modified Gulfstream V jet and this morning leave for Christchurch. The group was scheduled to fly out yesterday but was forced […]

Features

Tributes flow for Te Tika Mataiapo

Lady Carla Davis, the widow of Sir Thomas Davis, former Cook Islands Prime Minister shares her sorrow over the death of Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid: It is with deep sadness and shock, that many of us have just learned about the sudden passing of Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid. Te Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid […]

Features

Students need help to make history

Four students from the Hospitality Tourism Training Centre (HTTC) will make history at New Zealands premier student culinary and restaurant service competition but only if you help them make it there first. The Cook Islands students are hosting a swathe of fundraising dinners and lunches over the coming weeks in anticipation of next months Nestle […]

Features

Spreading peace in the Pacific

Two young Cook Islands adults have been enlisted to help spread peace in the Pacific with the message one ocean, one people. John Taivairanga and Tamara File will travel to Auckland this month as the Cook Islands representatives for the 2011 Wansolwara Youth Peace-building Training Conference. They will meet with 18 other delegates aged between […]

Features

CI poetry part of book up for award

A poetry book featuring a number of Cook Islands poets has been shortlisted at the New Zealand Post Book Awards. Mauri Ola: Contemporary Polynesian Poems in English, Whetu Moana II, is a finalist for the poetry category of this years Post book awards. Mauri Ola is a sequel to Whetu Moana a book of contemporary […]

Features

Canoe gets some artistic flair

Young Cook Islands artist Nathan Welsh spray-paints his uncle Fletcher Melvins rudderless canoe. Welsh, who was born and bred on Rarotonga, is now based in New Zealand but is back home this week for his art show. His pieces which are influenced by street culture and contemporary urban art are on display at The Art […]

Features

Tertiary scholarships available for study

Expressions of interest are being sought by the government for scholarship awards to study in New Zealand and the Pacific region. The Department of National Human Resources Development is calling on those interested in undertaking tertiary education to submit applications before July 7. Suitable qualified Cook Islanders will be considered for the scholarships for the […]

Features

New shop a baby product wonderland

Newly opened shop Kidz R Us is offering a range of baby products from nappies and petroleum jelly to clothing, bedding and strollers. Owners Tashi and Ziona Tutai are renting the Maraerenga building and have transformed it into a purple and green wonderland for expectant mothers, new parents, and anyone wanting to purchase gifts and […]

Features

Trader Jacks celebrates 25 years

Trader Jacks has buckled under the pressure of three separate cyclones, but each time its managed to rise again. And as it celebrates 25 years this week, the iconic bar boasts a reputation that stretches around the region and even, perhaps, the world. Twenty five years is a long time, owner Jack Cooper said, as […]

Features

Stars shine bright in the legend Pipirima

For three hours on Wednesday night, a packed nearly-to-capacity auditorium was spellbound. Those who turned up to watch Once Upon a Reef the theatrical version of Cook Islands legend Pipirima had nothing but praise for the Cook Islands cast, crew and storyline. Main characters Melinda Pierre and Tuaine (Katu) Teiti were emotive and expressive, the […]

Features

Rough conditions hamper annual fishing competition

Fishing conditions were unfavourable at the weekend where 17 boats headed out to contest the Don Beer Senior Memorial Trophy for the heaviest tuna in the annual competition over Queens Birthday weekend. Seventeen boats registered for the competition, but unfortunately the fishing conditions were far from ideal with a strong south-easterly blowing on both days […]

Features

Pacific artist leaves indelible legacy

The local art community came together yesterday to celebrate the life of Jim Vivieaere, whose death last week left a void in the heart of many a Pacific artist. With artist Ani ONeill acting as master of ceremonies, the Rarotonga memorial service took place at the Peace Garden at Taputapuatea in Avarua. Artists, friends and […]

Features

Rarotonga life seduces Australian couple

The newest owners of Saltwater Cafe were planning to grow old in their Brisbane home theyd even remodelled it last year. But somewhere along the way, Stephen and Sue Welsh fell in love with Rarotonga. After a holiday to Aitutaki and a conversation with Saltwaters former owners Mike and Pook, they made a spontaneous decision […]

Features

Wedding makes magazine pages

The recent wedding of two young people with Cook Islands connections was of such celebrity status, it made it into the pages of popular New Zealand magazine Womans Weekly. The granddaughter of Meremaraea Macquarie married former All Black Tamati Ellison who is New Zealand Maori and the nephew of Arorangi Trades Training Centre director Boyd […]

Features

Young artist nervous over show

Young Cook Islands artists Nathan Welsh and Mata Priest are doing their first show at The Art Studio in Arorangi. The exhibition opens for a preview today at 4pm, and will be on display from June 6 until June 15. Its an array of different works, including print, photography and paintings. Priest graduated from Tereora […]

Features

Show a once in a lifetime experience

Motone Productions Opera in Paradise wrapped up last weekend, with a deserved standing ovation for the two star singers at the Crown Beach Resort in Arorangi. The stars were two outstanding Pacific tenors, Ben Makisi and Cook Islander Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua. The two sold-out shows in Rarotonga were in aid of local charity Te Vaerua, which […]

Features

Tiki Taane gig tickets going fast

Number one New Zealand artist Tiki Taane is performing for his second time on Rarotonga at an exclusive gig on Friday at Rehab Nightclub. The gig will open with local acts and then launch into Tikis acoustic set, ending in him performing an MC/DJ set. Tiki first came to Rarotonga back in 2007 for a […]

Features

Stone exhibition first of its kind

A collection of Cook Islands stone sites, structures and monuments will be on display at the National Museum, starting from tomorrow. The exhibition entitled Cook Islands in Stone opens for a preview tonight at 6 oclock and will be open to the public until June 21. The National Museum is staging the exhibition with help […]

Features

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