FestPAC gathering strengthens Pacific identity
As the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) enters its second week, Cook Islands Consul General in Aotearoa New Zealand, Keu Mataroa, expresses his deep appreciation for the rich cultural artistry and
NZ commits $20m to Cook Islands budget, $10.5m for public service
Cook Islands has secured $20 million (US$12.30 million) in Core Sector Budget Support and an additional $10.5 million (US$6.45 million) for continued public sector strengthening during the 8th Cook Islands-New Zealand
Cook Islands Bill to safeguard Manatua Cable passed with fines up to $250,000
A monetary fine will be imposed on anyone who breaches the Manatua Cable Protection Bill 2024 in Cook Islands. The bill, passed by Cook Islands Parliament last Thursday, safeguards the Manatua One Polynesian Cable from
Proposed law on tainted cryptocurrency ‘terrible’ for human rights, says Cook Islands expert
A Cook Islands cryptocurrency expert is critical of a proposed law targeting tainted cryptocurrency, arguing it undermines human rights and doesn’t address the real channels of money laundering. In the rapidly
U.S. sanctions Cook Islands-flagged ships aiding Iranian drone shipment to Russia
Three Cook Islands-flagged vessels have been sanctioned by the United States for their involvement in the shipment of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Moeroa Mamanu-Matheson,
Cook Islanders invited to discuss Health Bill, medicinal cannabis access
Cook Islands Health Secretary Bob Williams says it is important for the public to know and understand the Public Health Bill, set for public discussions starting today. A series of public consultations on the
Pacific obesity rates continue to concern
Pacific Island nations have the highest rates of obesity in the world, a new study has revealed. The study from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a worldwide network of over 1500 researchers and
Scammers use fake Cook Islands resort to lure overseas job seekers
International scammers have created a fake Cook Islands resort to lure people looking for jobs in the tourism industry. They deceive victims into paying an upfront fee of at least $280 (US$165.90). Cook Islands News
Government insists on value of crypto bill despite criticism
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in Cook Islands has hit back at the critics of the draft Tainted Cryptocurrency Recovery Bill 2023, saying the media did not highlight positive aspects of the Bill. The Bill,
Opinion: Decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Cook Islands
On 14 April 2023, during the second reading of the Crimes (Sexual Offence) Amendment Bill 2023, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, in this speech, said: We are a free country, we have freedom of speech, we have
Cook Islands telecommunications regulator defends Starlink users
Cook Islands telecommunications regulator head Bernard Hill said regional regulators who are banning the use of Starlink might have an “overinflated view” of their importance. His comments come after reports in
Social media campaign to unearth players paying dividends for Cook Islands
From Asia to the Netherlands, the Cook Islands national team is casting its net ever wider in search of players. With a population smaller than the West Coast and with both codes of rugby popular, the Cook Islands
Maara Vaiimene appointed new director of Cook Islands Meterological Service
Former senior meteorological observer Maara Vaiimene has been appointed the new director of the Cook Islands Meteorological Service. Vaiimene commenced the top role on 25 March. Secretary for Ministry of Transport John
Maōri king and other indigenous Pacific leaders sign up to granting whales legal personhood
Pacific indigenous leaders, including the Māori King, has urged the legal recognition of whales as persons with inherent rights. Māori leaders spearheading the Hinemoana Halo Ocean Initiative joined forces with Kīngi
Former Cook Islands Deputy PM jailed on fraud and corruption charges
Former Cook Islands deputy Prime Minister Robert Tepaitau and two other former high-ranking Government officials were handed jail terms Friday for fraud and corruption charges. Tepaitau has been jailed for two years and
Pacific Islands eye medicinal cannabis cultivation
But social concerns remain Pacific governments are grappling with balancing the potential economic benefits of legalising medicinal cannabis cultivation with social concerns, as they eye the potentially lucrative new
Cook Islands migrant workers welcome High Court ruling on residency threshold
The Cook Islands High Court has found that the country’s immigration law that offers preferential treatment to New Zealand citizens over those from other nations is “invalid”. New Zealand passport holders only
Pacific youth to #SwipeUp4Change
Young climate activists and content creators from the Pacific are taking steps to harness the power of social media to further drive climate action in the region. Twenty young people are in Suva for a week-long workshop
$10 million project aims to reduce single-use plastics in Cook Islands
A project to reduce the number of plastics entering the country, focused on the food and beverage sector, was discussed during a workshop in Rarotonga last week. Like other countries around the world, the Cook Islands
U-turn on electric vehicles: Cook Islands Government retains unsold vehicles due to lack of bids
Cook Islands Government will retain and distribute eight electric vehicles (EVs) it previously tried to sell due to lack of bids likely caused by affordability concerns. These eight EVs were part of a larger purchase
Study finds Pacific accounts for nine of the 10 most obese countries in the world, Cook Islands grapples with highest childhood obesity rates in the world
Study finds Pacific accounts for nine of the 10 most obese countries in the world New analysis published in the Lancet has found that Pacific island countries account for nine out of 10 of the top countries in the world
‘Greenwashing’: Cook Islands Environment group slams ‘mineral harvesting’ in Seabed Mining Act
The introduction of the term ‘mineral harvesting’ in the legislation governing seabed minerals in the Cook Islands is an attempt to ‘greenwash this destructive industry’, says a local environment group. Te
Cook Islands Parliament makes changes to seabed mining law
The Cook Islands has made amendments to its Seabed Minerals Act this week, including replacing the term “mining” with “minerals harvesting … to reflect the actual activity that takes
