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
Features
Breaking barriers in filmmaking: Award winning director creates first Pacific film in sign language
In an important milestone for the Pacific film industry, local filmmaker Glenda Tuaine has been awarded a prestigious fellowship funding from the Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC) to create her latest short film, ‘Deaf Girl Dancing’. Melina Etches reports.
Sew good! Vaimaanga women keep tradition alive while making a living
Selling tie-dye bed sheets or pareu is not only a source of income, but also a way of keeping the art of hand printing or tie-dye alive for young mothers and older women.
New hands at Muri club
‘The Club’ is the party place to be on the country side of the island. That’s the Ngatangiia-Matavera sports clubroom bar right on the stunning Muri beach and lagoon. New bar managers Donal Campbell and Willie Kauvai are on board to grow the bar’s reputation as the place to be on the weekends for locals […]
Atiu relic fetches $176,000 at auction
An Atiu artefact sold for US$146,500 (NZ$176,000) at a San Francisco auction this month, fetching significantly more than any other Oceanic artefact on offer. The akatara, or ‘pole-club’, was projected to sell for between $75,000 and $100,000, but its final purchase price far exceeded auctioneers’ pre-sale expectations. The artefact was the lead object in a […]
New life for Vaka Te Au O Tonga
Sitting atop concrete blocks and partially covered in tarps at the Aitutaki harbour, Vaka Te Au O Tonga is surrounded by saws, hammers, nails, wood and wires. A generator buzzes off to the side, powering the equipment sitting around and underneath the 72-foot vessel. The tangle of tools, woodchip and noise are all signs of […]
First 2 talents bow out
Thomas Webb’s unexpected departure from the H Factor singing competition has seen just one person knocked out of the contest in the first round of eliminations on Saturday. The viewing public voted Webb as one of their top-four favourite singers after the competition’s first round of performances last Saturday. But their love wasn’t enough to […]
First 2 H Factor eliminations
All 10 contestants fighting it out in the H Factor singing contest will again take to the stage tonight in the second round of the competition. By the end of the night, however, two will be heading home based on their performances last Saturday. The bottom three singers as voted by the judges, live viewing […]
Knickers in a Twist in Mararerenga
Elizabeth Jamison likes to get dolled up. The Wellingtonian performed for years as a Burlesque dancer, and grew accustomed to expressing her femininity and taking pride in being a woman. Six months ago she moved to Rarotonga, and with great disappointment noted the absence of any lingerie shop for women who just “wanted to be […]
Educational text books gifted
The gift of more 230 science and horticulture text books to Tereora College is set to improve the quality of learning for students at the national college. The donation of new and old science and horticulture text books will go a long way in educating Cook Islands students on the importance of looking after their […]
'Chocolate Boy' wins the day
‘Chocolate Boy’ has won the first ever Cook Islands News summer photo competition. The smiley chocolate covered face of four-year-old Roimata Laudola enjoying two ice-creams and sporting the biggest and cheesiest grin melted the hearts of the summer photo competition judges. They unanimously picked the photo as the winner of the popular competition. The photo […]
Carved trophy for winner
Among the prizes H Factor hopefuls will be competing for is this trophy. The unique trophy has been carved out of stone by local master carver, poet and raconteur Mike Tavioni. It will be presented to the H Factor champion at the grand final on Saturday, March 3, after the competition of 10 is whittled […]
Musical Maoate family taking the stage
They can’t be missed at Muriwai Beach. Tairi and Neita Maoate have a troop of 12 children who are renowned for their strong family values, surfing and playing sports, home-schooling and business interests. The family of Tahitian-Cook Islands descent also whip out their percussion instruments and transform into Muzacon, “a polytainment fusion group”. They will […]
Go Gaga at H Factor tonight
Contestants battling it out in the H Factor competition will hit the stage for the first round of competition tonight, taking their singing ways to Hidie’s Bar with some of music’s greats in their sights. The H Factor’s top 10 singers will put their spin on artists new and old, from Lady Gaga to Jackie […]
USP's MBA course ranked 15th for quality
The Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) programme at the University of the South Pacific has been ranked 15th in the region for quality. International rating agency Eduniversal recently published its 1000 choices for best business schools in the world. Their ranking is based on three criterias – the programme’s reputation, career prospects and salary levels […]
'It's okay to be soft and hard'
Dr Peter Faga Loresio Mario is in Rarotonga for the next four weeks, with a double-pronged goal – his primary purpose is to teach a human resources course to Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) students, but he’s also trying to sell his students on the benefits of going further and earning a doctorate of business […]
Swiss chef starts mobile service
For those who can’t decide whether to eat out or dine in, there’s a happy medium – a new service provided by Swiss chef Alberto Bachmann. Bachmann is Rarotonga’s resident ‘Dial-A-Chef’ – available for house calls and private parties. The idea is that the host provides plates, cutlery and a place to eat, and Bachmann […]
Healthy shakes, salads and smoothies
People who have been swept up in the Fitness Revolution – and those who are looking for something to take the edge off the summer heat – are welcoming Rarotonga’s newest juice and salad bar at Manu Manor. Located on the Tupapa side of town, Juicee offers fresh, healthy alternatives to heavy, greasy takeaway lunches. […]
Pohnpei fishery body recruits Cook Islander
The appointment of Dr Lara Manarangi-Trott as compliance manager for the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) in Pohnpei continues the tradition of Cook Islanders being well represented at regional fisheries management organisations. A home-grown girl, Lara is the daughter of Owen and Teresa Manarangi-Trott, current president of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce. Lara […]
A Day Made Better by Mrs K
She’s too humble to talk much about it, but just last year Te Uki Ou’s newest teacher won a national award in New Zealand for demonstrating passion and dedication to education. Amy Koekemoer (nee Holder) – ‘Mrs K’ to her year four and five students – was recognised by OfficeMax’s A Day Made Better programme […]
Summer photo competition - 3
These images are a selection from over 60 photos received over the last seven days – the last week of the Cook Islands News Memories of Summer Photo Competition sponsored by CIPS Image & Copy Centre. Next Saturday we’ll announce the overall winner of the major prize – a brand new Nikon1 J1 camera. We […]
Summer photo competition - 2
This is the second to last selection of photo entries from our first Memories of Summer photo competition sponsored by CIPS Image & Copy Centre. Next Saturday we’ll announce the overall winner and publish the ‘best of the best’. Thanks to all who have taken the time and interest to enter. Summer photo competition – […]
Summer photo competition - 1
We’ve been inundated with nearly 200 images of children, pets and family fun in our first ever Memories of Summer photo competition sponsored by CIPS Image & Copy Centre. This selection of pictures were received in the first few weeks. Summer photo competition – 3; Summer photo competition – 2 Previous weeks: (Week 1 – […]