Cook Islands passes budget
Cook Islands parliament has passed what Prime Minister Mark Brown has dubbed “a budget of revival.” The US$212 million budget includes an additional US7.7 million allocation for government agencies than was
Cook Islands
Cook Islands swimmer off to Olympics
Cook Islands swimmer Wesley Roberts has broken a national record and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Wesley Roberts, also known as the “Atiu Rocket”, broke the national record in the 400 metre freestyle (3.52.50)
Palau welcomes tourists, Cook Is still waiting
Quarantine free trouble has begun between Palau and Taiwan with the arrival of Palau’s first inbound tourism flight since March last year. Palau’s President, Surangel Whipps, Jr. returned to Palau from Taiwan on
Who is Henry Puna?
Who is Henry Puna? One vote – and a hundred million, or so, in unaudited assets. Few candidates have as slim a mandate as the new Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum. Just one vote separated him from
Cooks deny “sinister move” over audit delays
Official documents show Cook Islands auditors repeatedly raised issues over hundreds of millions in state assets, taxes, loans and cash. The audit documents, which have been obtained by Islands Business, show issues go
Pacific Briefs
American Samoa There’s new hope for American Samoans stranded in the United States since the territory’s borders closed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March. More than 500 people are estimated to be
Cook Islands opens seabed minerals exploration
Companies interested in conducting seabed minerals exploration work in Cook Islands have until December to put in their Expressions of Interest. This was announced by Prime Minister Mark Brown in an elaborate ceremony
Cook Islands ratifies PACER Plus
The Pacific Agreement on Closer Economic Relations Plus (PACER Plus) is to come into force with the Cook Islands ratifying the agreement this week. Cook Islands is the eighth signatory to PACER Plus, joining Australia,
Pacific Funds want to invest in island infrastructure
The Pacific Islands Investment Forum says economic conditions caused by the coronavirus pandemic are an opportunity for the region’s superannuation, pension and provident funds to accelerate plans to pool their
Coronavirus travel restrictions: a Pacific wrap
There have been no cases of coronavirus reported in the Pacific Islands region, although Australia and New Zealand have reported cases, and in the case of Australia, one death. However the Pacific region has responded
New brand for Pacific Tourism
RAROTONGA, Cook Islands – Cook Islands Prime Minister, Henry Puna has officially launched a new brand and identity for promoting South Pacific tourism globally. The brand was approved at the 26th Council of
Cooks leads the way
Quota system for albacore, bigeye The Cook Islands has become the first Pacific Island nation to adopt a quota management system (QMS) for its longline fishery to control catches of albacore and bigeye tuna. The Marine
Cooks hauls in fish dollars
Korea, Kiribati pay for services PURSE seining revenue has accounted for the majority of fisheries revenue collected by the Cook Islands since 2014. According to Cooks Islands Fisheries Ministry submission to the
Full moon falling
Head of State avoids Cooks vote ‘THE work of the devil’ Clerk of Parliament John Tangi gave that explanation for an attempted vote-of-noconfidence in the government of the Cook Islands last month. According
Tuna vital to Cook Islands future
EXPECT tuna to be the main focus as the Cook Islands Government of Henry Puna seeks to consolidate support from the electorate half way through its term. But it won’t be an easy ride with Opposition Member of
Cook Islands at
FIFTY years of self-government and free association with New Zealand has raised more questions than answers as Cook Islanders contemplate the relevance of that relationship today, as well as their place in the world and
Puna back as Cook Islands Prime Minister?
Pending any successful petition against winning candidates in last month’s general elections in the Cook Islands, incumbent Prime Minister Henry Puna (pictured) and his Cook Islands Party are poised for another
Cooks opt for satellite telecom network
Could the Cook Islands become the next Bangalore of the Pacific? They do have the right technology to begin with but comparative telecommunication prices could prove to be the difference between being a technological