More Top Stories
Solar power battery repairs ‘could take up to 12 months’
15 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
Church Talk: The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep
The imagery of shepherding has become so much part of the Christian mind that it becomes almost invisible, writes Bishop Paul Donoghue of the Catholic Church.
Veterans reflect on sacrifice and camaraderie at Anzac Dawn Parade
The Anzac Day Dawn Parade, held yesterday morning at the cenotaph by the Ministry of Justice building, drew a large crowd of hundreds including the visiting Vietnam veterans from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Fundraisers still counting proceeds
Funds are still flowing in from Thursday’s national fundraiser day for the victims of the natural disasters in Australia and Christchurch. A total of $14,005 was pledged by Cook Islanders during the six-hour radiothon and funds raised by the entertaining concert at the national auditorium and from food sales have not been counted yet. But […]
Instalment symbolises intersection of two cultures
The final instalment of one of local artist Krick Barraud’s ongoing projects is now on display at Beachcomber Art Gallery and will remain there until April. Krick is pictured here with BCA owner Ben Bergman. The instalment features an assortment of photographs, text, linen, a life-sized ‘feather’ made of palm frond and Aitutaki lime, and […]
Bernard represents Cooks at Poly events
For New Zealand-based Cook Islands radio producer and journalist Bernard Tairea, volunteering at Auckland’s annual Pasifika and Polyfest cultural events is a highlight of the year. Tairea, who moved to New Zealand from the Cook Islands in 2002, hosts the Cook Islands programming on various Auckland-based radio stations, announces the news in Cook Islands Maori […]
Three firms combine in new Muri outlet
A unit in the newly-constructed Pacific Village complex is offering pearls, perfumes and holiday packages – the amalgamation of already-existing businesses Cook Islands Tours, Polynesian Tax Free Ltd and Farm Direct Pearls. Temu Okotai of Farm Direct Pearls and Cook Islands Tours is sharing the space with Polynesian Tax Free Ltd owner Trevor Richards, and […]
eMenu from Raro to Chicago
For two months Brett Baudinet will be entrusting the supervision of his High Tide bar and restaurant to its manager – he leaves tonight for Chicago, where he and his business partner will be launching an internet start-up they conceived of four years ago. The site is eMenu.com, an online service that offers customers a […]
Titi-Ai-Tonga adds some class to a product that's tried-and-true
After 11 months spent high and dry, Titi-Ai-Tonga is back in the water and wearing her new makeover well. Owned by Air Rarotonga and Paradise Islands, Titi-Ai-Tonga is the brainchild of former Aitutaki mayor Tai ‘Tango’ Herman, who took her out of the water for most of last year with an eye to revamping her […]
Local remembers Hawaiian pioneer
Herb Kawainui Kane, 83, the celebrated Hawaiian artist, historian, and a founder of the Polynesia Voyaging Society (PVS) who passed away earlier this month, was a pioneer whose work paved the way for many a Cook Islands voyager. He was instrumental in designing the Hokule’a, and passed on the anniversary of the date she set […]
Sunny Stroll among Pasifika
A huge sand-pit filled with buried treasure and artificial coconut trees gave added tropical flavour to Auckland City’s 19th Pasifika Festival at Western Springs Lakeside Park on Saturday March 12. While crowd numbers were down on previous years, the annual New Zealand event still proved to be a major Auckland attraction with a steady flow […]
Sea Eagles stop the Sharks
A last minute surge by the Aitutaki Sharks wasn’t enough to contain the soaring Ngatangiia Sea Eagles on Saturday who put away the Sharks 32-20 at Nukupure Park. The first half of the game was all Sea Eagles as veteran Thomas Toa directed the team around the park with his boots. The Sea Eagles front […]
Passionate jazz and blues at Little Poly
The Little Polynesian was packed to capacity on both Tuesday and Thursday with diners who booked to hear sultry California blues and jazz singer Diana Harris, who performs on Rarotonga each year. Both nights, Harris sang to over 30 guests with such emotion and feeling that she was much more than background dinner music. Her […]
From stage to Te Papa
Cook Islander choreographer and dancer Teokotai Paitai has swapped a long stage career for a job at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. Paitai joined Te Papa’s events team of six staff earlier this year as events producer. The team organise all events for Te Papa from exhibitions to special commemorative celebrations, aligning with major events like […]
CI village busy at Pasifika
Cook Islanders selling local products at the 19th annual Pasifika Festival in Auckland are celebrating a successful day. Of the 40-odd stalls within the festival’s Cook Islands village, 11 boasted traditional and contemporary merchandise made within the Cook Islands. As well as the 11 stall vendors, Business Trade and Investment Board (BTIB) trade and marketing […]
Precious tivaivai for show in Spain
Atiuan Fibre Arts Studio owner Andrea Eimke tonight boards a plane for Spain with several travel companions – Atiuan and Rarotongan tivaivai that have never before seen Europe. From March 17 to 20, Eimke will display her collection of tivaivai at the International Patchwork Festival in Sitges, Spain. She has also agreed to teach four […]
Cleaner aircon service
A new addition to the fleet of machines at Eric Short Automotive – an air conditioning servicing machine – makes the Avarua shop the only place on Rarotonga that can service vehicle aircon systems and properly dispose of the gases they emit. Air conditioning gas – or R-134a (1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane) – is an inert gas used […]
Vaka TV free tunes 700 sets
Vaka Television chief executive Dave Reuther says he has tuned between 600 and 700 television sets into the company’s new free-to-air station since it started to be broadcast in Rarotonga late last year. Reuther has turned his work truck into a mobile tuning device, and is fielding requests from television owners throughout villages in Rarotonga […]
Textile art on show
Wellington’s Te Papa Tongarewa Museum is planning a June celebration of Maori and Pacific textiles – loom weavings, bark cloth pieces, examples of plaiting and knotting – and now accepting submissions. The inaugural Maori and Pacific Textile Symposium, which enjoys support from the Costume and Textile Association of New Zealand, will on June 10 and […]
'There's nowhere like Aitutaki'
Though he is reluctant to say goodbye, Pacific Resort Aitutaki general manager Michael Shah is leaving on a high note. Last year he won the South Pacific General Manager of the Year award – which he called the highlight of his experience managing Pacific Resort Aitutaki – and he was in charge when the resort […]
Te Mana o Te Moana draws near
In recent weeks, Marumaru Atua captain Peia Patai has been stepping up the crew’s training regimen. Crew have been doing swim tests and regular jogs through town, first aid courses, day sails and overnight trips. Those who didn’t already have a boat master’s qualification finished a two-week course with Steve Simpson, the Ministry of Marine […]
Aere ra e Papa OJ Joseph
On Thursday evening Papa Ota Joseph, 73, passed away at home in the arms of his beloved wife of 49 years, Ngatangata Puapii Rongo and granddaughter Nicole. Tama Parei Joseph, better known as Papa Ota or OJ, was born on 23 December 1937, the 11th child of 14 children in Aitutaki. Although many people called […]
Love for Nassau in Poti's winning song
Takitumu Primary School teacher Poti Maeva’s original compilation titled Ongalewu was judged the best song at Thursday night’s Mire Atu composer’s competition. Singing his own song – Maeva had the 400 strong crowd at the national auditorium in awe as he sang about the longing one has for their island home. Ongalewu is the original […]