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Plastic bags banned
2 July 2025
Letter: Superfund restrictions questioned
13 June 2025
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12 March 2025
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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 debt in China deal
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
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
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
National
Airport Authority continues with upgrade works
The Airport Authority Cook Islands (AACI) is currently undertaking significant upgrade works at Rarotonga International Airport to enhance the travel experience for future users.
Tereora College kicks off fundraising season
Level 3 students at Tereora College have kicked off their fundraising season with a successful start, selling curry chicken plates to raise funds for their senior ball, which will take place on December 5 this year.
Esther Honey garage sale success
Thanks to the generosity of the Rarotonga community, the Esther Honey Foundation Animal Clinic raised $625 from last Saturday’s garage sale. In addition, animal patients enjoyed full tummies because of the kindness of local bargain hunters who also donated animal food. A bonus to an already great day was the placement of two sweet-faced kittens […]
Police pleased
Police are pleased with how their emergency response centre handled the threat of cyclone Nisha. As the leading government agency in times of cyclones, police opened emergency hotlines for the public and continued to operate well after Nisha was declared a tropical depression. “The way everyone handled things was a big improvement in the whole […]
Tourism industry wants more answers on new marketing body
The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council is meeting on Monday to discuss a controversial new government initiative – the destination sales and marketing committee. The committee is to provide marketing advice to the tourism board as well as communicate with the industry to gather more information on how to promote the destination. Industry council vice […]
Overseas driving advice
The driving licence issued by Cook Islands Police does not necessarily qualify holders to drive overseas, says police commissioner Maara Tetava. The regulatory office is in the practice of issuing letters to Cook Islanders planning to move overseas, reminding them to apply for an overseas licence. But those planning to drive while overseas on holiday […]
Does reform include letting go of Ivirua?
After reading about the radical political reforms proposed, one signaller says to push the proposal to combine some of the constituencies, it might help if the prime minister comes out and states that he is in favour of letting go of his Ivirua seat in Mangaia. “Wouldn’t it make more sense if we were to […]
Mou Piri response to political reform proposals
This is Mou Piri’s considered response and position on the specific political reforms proposed by the prime minister’s advisers: 1. PRIME MINISTER – Yes, Mou Piri supports the direct election of the Prime Minister by all Cook Island registered voters. Advantage: being elected by the people and not a political party will allow the PM […]
It was back to school this week
It’s been an interesting first week back at school for Rarotonga students. Kids seemed to be starting to settle down and make new friends on Tuesday and Wednesday but on Thursday Rarotonga schools closed their doors for cyclone Nisha. In this week’s Kids Page we look back at the first day of school for Rarotonga […]
Airline story was wrong
Dear Editor, Your Smoke Signal under the heading ‘Flying high’ appeared to say that when the country tried to run our own airline in the 1980s it “lost millions – several Toagate worth per year”. The writer is wrong. I led the negotiations for a joint venture airline with Ansett and the formation of Cook […]
Cyclone Nisha downgraded
What a difference a day makes. The glimpse of sun between showers yesterday was a stark contrast to Thursday afternoon as Rarotonga braced itself for tropical cyclone Nisha. After increasing in movement and losing intensity, Nisha was officially declared a tropical depression at 5am yesterday by the Fiji Metrological Service. Senior Cook Islands met service […]
Independent MP says PM is 'fooling' on reform
Rakahanga’s independent MP Piho Rua (above) says the prime minister is fooling the public on the proposed political reforms. “He [Jim Marurai] is saying things that are pretty difficult to achieve,” says Rua. “He knows that he has to go to parliament to achieve those reforms. But the way I see it, he is not […]
Offshore industry represented in US
Three offshore finance industry people are flying the Cook Islands flag in the United States this week. More than 2500 trusts and estates attorneys are in Orlando, Florida, for the 44th annual Heckerling Institute on estate planning. Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority chief executive Jenner Davis, who has attended previous Heckerling conferences, says it […]
Harbour clears for cyclone
Boat owners worked round the clock yesterday to remove their vessels from Avatiu harbour in preparation for cyclone Nisha. While smaller fishing vessels were winched on to trailers and taken to higher ground, bigger charter boats had to be lifted out of the water by crane. That included the Ports Authority’s tug boat. Interisland trading […]
Most public servants let off work to prepare for cyclone
Prime minister Jim Marurai was still in his office yesterday afternoon but had sent his staff home after midday following news that cyclone Nisha had intensified and was continuing on its course towards Rarotonga. At 3pm he told CINews he had not ordered other ministers or government ministries to close early but several of them […]
Playing it safe
Schools were closed yesterday as the country remained on warning against cyclone Nisha. Ministry of education secretary Sharon Paio made the decision to have children remain at home after receiving an update from the met service early yesterday morning. “It’s a bit of an unknown, the situation can change, but I spoke to the met […]
Police on the alert and watch
Police are in emergency operation mode as cyclone Nisha is deep within Cook Islands territory. The meteorological service placed the country on warning late Wednesday afternoon triggering the police to activate the emergency operation centre in their headquarters. Officers have been designated to track Nisha’s path with each met service update, answer any inquiries the […]
Tourism tribute to Dean
The tourism industry council says CI Tourism CEO John Dean has advanced the work of the corporation in several key areas over the past 21 months. CINews asked the council to comment on Dean’s contribution to the industry following his resignation this month. The council says Dean brought a mature and pragmatic business approach to […]
Tourism council explains role of new marketing team
Tourism board chairman Tata Crocombe heads a new group of tourism industry members that will give marketing advice to government. The destination sales and marketing committee will provide advice to the tourism board. The group will also be responsible for communicating more with the industry on how to promote the destination. Tourism industry council (CITIC) […]
Licence plates switched on DPM's car
The licence plates on the ‘DPM’ plated car were illegally switched until two weeks ago when former deputy prime minister Sir Terepai Maoate returned the grey Honda Accord to the DPM office. Members of the public had noticed Sir Terepai still driving a government vehicle and CINews can now reveal that even though he was […]
Chopper carries out water rescue exercise
A simulated water rescue was carried out with the HeliRaro chopper at Avatiu harbour last Saturday. One of the Rescue Cook Islands stretchers was used in the exercise where a volunteer wearing a life-jacket swam out into the western marina to await the ‘rescue’. The helicopter took to the air with the stretcher suspended from […]
Bigger talent pool for cabinet: Tata
Tata Crocombe says the ‘talent pool’ available for cabinet would be expanded from the ruling political party to around 10,000 people if one of the proposed changes to the political system was accepted. Currently a PM can only appoint ministers from within parliament and in most circumstances from within his own ruling party – in […]
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