Politics
Opposition leader demands greater transparency on ministerial travel
Friday 23 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Opposition Democratic Party leader Tina Browne wants greater transparency in terms of how Ministerial trips overseas are reported.
MP calls for cut back on Parliament lunches
Friday 23 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather feels that Parliament should cut back on its lunches.
Christmas deadline for medicinal cannabis
Friday 23 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
The chair of the Medicinal Cannabis committee is now saying that he would like to see new measures implemented by Christmas.
Question Time ‘not for stories’, says Speaker
Tuesday 20 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National, Politics
The Speaker of the House has asked Cook Islands Parliamentarians to use Question Time wisely.
PM gives evidence at high profile trial
Friday 16 June 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Court, Crime, National, Politics
Prime Minister Mark Brown has given evidence on the fourth day of a Judge alone trial where he was questioned about his suspended deputy Robert Tapaitau and former director of the National Environment Service, Nga Puna.
Fiji PM in search for former Cooks sailors
Monday 12 June 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in 52nd Pacific Islands Forum 2023, Fiji, Local, National, Politics, Regional
Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who is due to visit the Cook Islands later in the year, is hoping to reunite with a group of Cook Islands sailors who were held hostage in the Indian Ocean by Tamil Tigers pirates in the late 1980s.
Prime Minister gets ceremonial welcome home
Wednesday 7 June 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown got the full welcome when he arrived back in Rarotonga.
Matavera MP Tupa elected Public Accounts Committee deputy chair
Thursday 18 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) held its first meeting of the year last week to discuss their working programme and reports from various Government Ministries.
Concerns raised over EO’s absence from Rakahanga
Tuesday 16 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Local, National, Outer Islands, Politics
The executive officer (EO) for Rakahanga has been asked to return to the island after concern raised about his alleged frequent absences.
Titikaveka MP uses Constituency Fund to buy roasters for his village
Thursday 4 May 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in National, Politics
The four tapere (sub-district) of Titikaveka – Tikioki, Akapuao, Turoa and Vaimaanga – have received roasters which will help lighten their cooking duties in upcoming community events.
Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting to be held in November
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in 52nd Pacific Islands Forum 2023, National, Politics, Regional
The date for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting (PILFM) in the Cook Islands has been confirmed. The 52nd Forum Meeting, held in the Cook Islands for the first time since 2012, will take place between November 6 to 10.
PM Brown discusses sustainable long-term development partnership with South Korean counterpart
Tuesday 2 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Prime Minister Mark Brown is in South Korea this week, as part of his engagements with the Asian Development Bank.
Cook Islands and China talk forward co-operation
Thursday 20 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Cook Island Prime Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration the Hon. Mark Brown met with the Ambassador for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to New Zealand and the Cook Islands, His Excellency, Wang Xiaolong in Rarotonga yesterday.
Decriminalising homosexuality: Opposition MPs say new Bill contravenes God’s law
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Sweeping changes to the Crimes Act, including the decriminalising of homosexuality, were passed in Cook Islands Parliament, despite some strong views that the changes will contravene God’s law.
Parliament passes $60k tax free threshold for Pa Enua
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Outer Islands, Politics
People living in the Pa Enua won’t be paying tax unless they earn over $60,000 a year, thanks to the passing of a new Bill.
Parliament debates ‘Pa Enua $60k tax-free threshold’ Bill
Friday 14 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Outer Islands, Politics
Debate on the Bill creating a tax-free threshold of $60,000 for the Pa Enua residents is underway.
Parliament briefs
Friday 14 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in National, Politics
Minister for Health Rose Toki-Brown says Te Marae Ora (TMO) has a plan in place not only for Mangaia but for all Pa Enua to have dentists.
Opposition raises concern over Government’s push for seabed mining
Thursday 13 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
Opposition leader Tina Browne has spoken out in Parliament about her concerns with the Government’s pace in pushing ahead with seabed mineral exploration.
Cook Islands United Party faces hefty legal bill
Wednesday 12 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics
The Cook Islands United Party could be facing a costs order of more than $30,000 for their failed electoral petitions, but the party leader says he has “no regrets”.
Key bills in Parliament
Tuesday 11 April 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in National, Politics
A number of key bills including amendments to the Crimes Bill will be presented in the second meeting of the 18th Parliament which starts at 1pm today.