More Top Stories
$12.9m approved for solar battery project, NZ confirms
12 March 2025
Crown Law Office on track for record number of lawyers
12 March 2025
‘Nothing to worry about’: Prime Minister Brown on China agreement
16 February 2025
‘Serious questions’: Opposition challenges China partnership
15 February 2025
No-confidence motion against PM and his Cabinet faces delays
15 February 2025
Ruta Mave: People’s Republic of China red flag
10 February 2025
No debt in China deal
8 February 2025
Thomas Wynne: Haka with the taniwha or dance with the dragon?
8 February 2025
‘Paedophile’ gets 13 years in prison
22 January 2025
Thomas Wynne: Where were our leaders while children suffered?
25 January 2025
$541.7m tourism earnings
25 January 2025
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
National
Articulate education dream, ex-NZ minister tells Cook Islands
A former New Zealand minister urged the Cook Islands to develop a focused action plan for culturally rooted education, emphasising community involvement and language preservation, at the inaugural education symposium last week.
Court brief
Justice of the Peace John Whitta presided over several cases on Tuesday at the Criminal Court in Avarua with two sentencings being adjourned due to various reasons.
Valero scoops $1143 worth of groceries in 60-second dash
Dressed in running shoes and a wide smile, Raul Valero looked cool and confident – albeit slightly nervous – as he prepared to sprint through the supermarket in CITC’s Woolworths Grocery Grab event yesterday.
Donald Trump’s deep-sea mining order condemned as ‘militarisation’ of Pacific
United States President Donald Trump’s latest executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry is a ‘contemporary militarisation of the Pacific region yet again’, says an advocate for ocean conservation and protection.
$35.7 million budget for Cook Islands National Health Plan
The Cook Islands Ministry of Health, Te Marae Ora (TMO), has revealed that the total projected cost to implement the National Health Strategic Plan 2023-2027 is approximately $35.7 million.
Pa Enua strains under influx of mental health patients without local support
The growing number of Cook Islands patients with mental illness returning from overseas without adequate local support systems presents a significant challenge for frontline healthcare workers and volunteers in the Pa Enua.
Colour and style winners crowned for autism awareness
Autism Cook Islands (ACI) announced the winners of its colouring competition and best-dressed participants at last month’s Blue Day event, at Nukutere College on Thursday last week.
Elikana highlights ocean leadership and climate resilience at UNESCAP
Cook Islands, led by Tingika Elikana, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, attended the 81st Session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) from 21 to 25 April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Four arrested for drunk driving, driver nearly five times over legal limit
Traffic checkpoints set up by the Cook Islands Police Service over the weekend have started to yield positive results, as the heightened police presence on the roads appears to be making an impact.
Court news
May 13, 2025
Minister dismisses funding concerns over deportation of foreign offenders
Foreign nationals convicted of certain offences will be deported following a court order, with funding secured by either the Ministry of Justice or Immigration, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, who dismissed concerns about a lack of resources hindering deportations.
Cook Islands nurses plea for ‘real action’ on International Day
As the Cook Islands joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Nurses Day yesterday, a call has been made to stakeholders to invest in nurses, not just in words, but through real, lasting action.
Proud mum dances to third consecutive Te Mire Ura victory
Winning the 2025 Te Mire Ura experts’ female category for the third consecutive year, Uirangi Bishop couldn’t be prouder, especially as a young mother.
Fire incidents down but new risks, old challenges persist
The Puaikura Fire Brigade has reported a significant decrease in fire incidents this year compared to 2024, but emerging risks and persistent challenges continue to pose threats to community safety.
Breast Cancer Foundation funds increased by 48.5 per cent over the year
The Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation (CIBCF) has reported a significant increase in its funds, marking a 48.5 per cent rise compared to the previous year.
SBMA officials visit China for global deep sea science training workshop
Three staff from the Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) were among 22 international participants who recently took part in the third knowledge transfer training workshop organised and fully funded by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the Government of China.
No movement on Cook Islands-China deals months after signing
Three months after signing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, Cook Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Tingika Elikana confirmed that no progress had been made in implementing the potential projects under the agreements signed between the two countries.
Mental health services see growth, ongoing challenges
Mental health services in the Cook Islands have significantly expanded over the past four years, according to the recently released Cook Islands National Health Strategic Plan 2023-2027 (TMO Ara-Tango Anga’nga) by the Cook Islands Ministry of Health.
Survey highlights urgent need to tackle single-use plastics
Cook Islands faces a significant challenge with single-use plastic pollution, driven by tourism and reliance on imports, impacting the environment and economy, but a recent survey reveals public awareness and willingness to adopt sustainable alternatives if accessible and affordable options and stronger regulations are in place.
Ko’anga Reo celebrates first graduate
Te Ko’anga Reo o Takitumu, a total immersion Māori early childhood centre, celebrated its first graduate on Friday.
‘Become a Māori again’: Rebuilding education the Cook Islands way
A significant national event dedicated to revitalising education through culture, language and identity took place this week, drawing over 100 participants each day from May 5 to 8, at the National Sports Arena in Nikao.
Historic election - Record number run for Mangaia mayor
Nine people are contesting the vacant Mangaia mayoral seat, making it the highest number of mayoral candidates in the Island Government Election.
