Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Thomas Wynne: Redefining Cook Islands’ nationhood
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Thomas Wynne. As we edge toward August 4th and mark 60 years since the Cook Islands gained self-government in free association with New Zealand, we find ourselves again in turbulent constitutional waters, writes Thomas Tarurongo Wynne. Two recent...
Cook Islands Pocket Guide Launches Major Update Following Latest Research Trip
Pacific Tourism Organisation
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July 4, 2025
Cook Islands Pocket Guide, the leading online travel guide for the Cook Islands, has released a major update to its content following an in-depth research trip across Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu. The trip, carried out in March 2025, was made...
45 years of ‘quiet service’
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Cook Islands’ chief statistician and chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua was honoured with a Certificate of Recognition for her 45 years of service. MFEM/ 25070334 Honoured for 45 years of service, Taggy Tangimetua has been instrumental in...
Cyclists gear up for BSP 100km Cycle race today
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Training rides are being held on Thursdays and Saturdays from the Social Centre in Nikao, with up to 20 cyclists regularly hitting the road each week. CITAI/25051910 Cook Island Triathlon Association is gearing up for this weekend’s BSP...
Cook Islands engages in regional dialogue on social impacts of labour mobility
Cook Island News
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July 1, 2025
Cook Islands participated in the Regional Workshop on the Social Impacts of Labour Mobility, held in Apia, Samoa, last week from June 23-26. MFAI/25063025 Cook Islands, led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, participated in a...
Cook Islands launches first-ever National Awards system: Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki
Cook Island News
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June 30, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown. SUPPLIED. The Office of the Prime Minister is proud to announce the establishment of Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki: The Cook Islands National Awards, an historic milestone to recognise and honour outstanding service,...
Saving the Cook Islands Māori language
Cook Island News
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July 1, 2025
The top three students from the Tateni Kōrero Apii Tuātai (Primary Schools Māori Speech Competition) held yesterday at Te Are Karioi Nui (National Auditorium). Pictured from left: Ana-Nui Wichman – Apii Takitumu (3rd place), Hinamoana Olah – Apii...
Cook Islands Cabinet approves significant increase in tobacco tax
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 30, 2025
Cook Islands Cabinet has approved a significant increase in tobacco tax, aiming to reduce smoking rates and combat non-communicable diseases. The Cabinet has recently approved the initiative set by Ministry of Health to increase the tobacco tax by...
Muri Lagoon cleanup for World Ocean Day
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Waste was collected from the Muri Beach coastline, streams, motu and surrounding areas in June 2022. TIS/22061711 Today, Saturday July 5, is World Ocean Day, and Muri Lagoon will once again become the focus of local environmental action as...
Cook Islands unveils historic National Awards system
Cook Island News
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June 27, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown in Parliament this week. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/25062316 Cook Islands has established its own national awards system, Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki, to recognise outstanding service and achievement across all sectors of...
Why Flying Can Be Good For Climate Change And Local Economies
Forbes
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Young Asian woman carrying suitcase, walking by the window at airport terminal.getty Has flying become the ultimate climate sin? Air travel is often cast as a scapegoat when it comes to tourism, but the numbers may tell a different story. Only 11%...
Cook Islands Parliament passes 2025/26 Budget
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown in Parliament on June 23, 2025. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25062320 The Cook Islands Parliament on Tuesday passed the 2025/26 Budget after just over a week of debate, with Parliament sitting only half-days during this period....
New Zealand citizenship ‘by right, not privilege’, says Cook Islands PM Brown
Island Times
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June 27, 2025
RAROTONGA (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens “not by privilege, but by right”, said Prime Minister Mark Brown in response to a recent poll conducted in New Zealand on citizenship rights. The nationwide poll, commissioned...
Commentary: Trump’s Mineral Policy Offers Strategic Opportunity in the Pacific
The Ohio Star
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July 5, 2025
by Wyatt J. Greco In an April 2025 executive order, President Trump affirmed that offshore critical minerals are key to creating supply chains that do not depend on adversaries like the People’s Republic of China. While US leadership on deep-sea...
Cook Islands PM confirms 25 businesses in arrears on Covid-19 loans
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 23, 2025
Twenty-five businesses are behind repayments of a business loan that was issued by the Cook Islands government to support them during the 2020 Covid pandemic. Prime Minister Mark Brown confirmed this in response to questions raised by Matavera MP...
Deep sea mining decision already made, Cook Islands opposition leader says
RNZ
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June 26, 2025
Cook Islands nodule field - photo taken within Cook Islands EEZ. Photo: Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority The Cook Islands' opposition leader believes the government has already decided it wants to pursue deep sea mining despite the science...
Stat of the week: In 2024, the Cook Islands recorded a negative trade balance of -161,697 USD
Pacific Community (SPC)
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In 2024, the Cook Islands recorded a negative trade balance of -161,697 USD. This means the value of imports exceeded exports, highlighting ongoing economic pressures and reliance on external goods. As small island economies like the Cook Islands...
Cook Islands Prime Minister slams NZ aid freeze as ‘patronising’
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 22, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand’s decision to pause development aid is patronising and will harm the country’s most vulnerable citizens. In a ministerial statement to Parliament on Thursday (Cook Islands time), Brown...
Cook Islands’ leading business fuels Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade
Cook Island News
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June 17, 2025
CITC proudly supports the Puaikura Volunteer Fire Brigade. From left, fire brigade volunteer Gavin Steiner, fire chief Jason Moorfield, and CITC brands manager George George. CITC/25061601 Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) has proudly...
NZ Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll reveals nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands
RNZ
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June 24, 2025
Under the Cook Islands constitution, New Zealand cannot pass laws for the Cook Islands. Photo: Supplied / PMN A new poll by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union-Curia shows that almost half of respondents oppose the Cook Islands having automatic New...