Cook Islands Election Date: Parliament adjourned sine die and the King’s Representative, Sir Tom Marsters, has set the Cook Islands general election for Wednesday, 12 August 2026, with the government moving into caretaker mode ahead of the poll. Aitutaki Harbour Pressure: Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas has issued CIIC an ultimatum to complete the Arutanga Harbour project within the next fiscal year or continue at its own cost, as scrutiny of the “complex” build grows. Fuel Crisis Fallout (Pacific): A new look at the region-wide fuel shock shows governments lifting diesel price ceilings sharply (including Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) while leaders push renewable options to reduce future import dependence. Deep-Sea Research for Mining: American Ocean Minerals says its Expedition 7 in the Cook Islands recovered 4,059 samples across 53 sites to build environmental baselines ahead of potential polymetallic nodule development. Ocean Monitoring Voyage: Climate Change Cook Islands and Earth Sciences New Zealand begin a month-long survey using the Kaharoa II to track ocean conditions and plastic pollution around the northern Cook Islands. Tourism Resilience: PM Mark Brown says worst-case GDP and inflation fears tied to global oil disruptions have not materialised, pointing to record visitor numbers and continued growth. Moana Pasifika Update (NZ): NZ Rugby has ruled out Moana Pasifika’s licence transfer for 2027, but says a Pacific-based franchise could return later if financial and commercial requirements are met.