Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Green Party co-leader to visit Cook Islands for breast cancer advocacy
Cook Island News
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July 18, 2025
Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand co-leader Marama Davidson. SUPPLIED/25071741 Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and breast cancer survivor, will visit Rarotonga from Thursday, 31 July to Tuesday 5 August at...
New Zealand snub a clear message for Cook Islands, says Opposition
Cook Island News
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July 16, 2025
Opposition MP and Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather. LOSIRENE LACANICALU/25052306 New Zealand’s top political leaders skipping the Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution anniversary, seen as a rebuke over closer ties with China, has...
A cultural legacy in motion
Cook Island News
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July 19, 2025
Secretary for Cultural Development, Emile Kairua. The journey of the Cook Islands from 1965 to 2025 is not only a tale of political evolution and economic development, but also equally a profound story of cultural resilience, continuity, and...
Former Reserve Bank boss Adrian Orr joins Cook Islands Super board
RNZ
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July 15, 2025
Adrian Orr quit as RBNZ governor in March after a dispute over future funding of the bank. Photo: Former Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr has become a member of the Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund (CINSF) board. Orr has family links to...
Cook Islands’ ‘rigid’ super fund model stands alone in the Pacific
Cook Island News
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July 12, 2025
Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund chief executive Damien Beddoes. CINSF/25071121 The Cook Islands super fund operates a unique, restrictive hybrid pension model, a policy its leadership defends as essential for long-term financial...
Cook Islands Emo Aito team ready for Tahiti Traditional Games debut
Cook Island News
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July 11, 2025
The Cook Islands warriors will debut at the Heiva Tahiti Tu'aro Maohi Traditional Games in Papeete, Tahiti. They departed Rarotonga yesterday. MELINA ETCHES/25071016 A group of 10 proud Cook Islands athletes has made history as the nation’s...
Cook Islands MP warns workers to pay more tax despite minimum wage increase
RNZ
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July 10, 2025
The minimum wage up slightly from NZ$9.50 to $10 (around US$6) on 1 July. Photo: 123RF A Cook Islands MP is accusing the government of taxing low-wage earners more by not adjusting the tax-free threshold with a minimum wage increase. The changes...
Cook Islands govt to consider increasing sugary drinks and alcohol tax proposal
Pacific Media Network
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The proposal to increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol will be considered by the Cook Islands Cabinet this month as the Health Ministry ramps up efforts to tackle rising chronic health problems in the country. A draft gazette listing...
New fund for Cook Islands business dreams
Cook Island News
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July 9, 2025
MSME Day cake cutting celebration with New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Catherine Graham, second from right. SUPPLIED /25070812 The MSME Day Celebration, hosted by the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and Business Link Pacific, at...
Peters rejects claim Aotearoa funding freeze to Cook Islands is ‘patronising’
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Photo composite: Newsroom/25070713 New Zealand Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters rejects suggestions that pausing of development funding to the...
Letter: Cook Islands superannuation returns
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
Dear Editor, This is a response to Ellena Tavioni (Cook Islands superannuation, July 7, 2025). Kia Orana Ellena, Thank you once again for your follow-up letter. I commend your ability to construct a house for under $30,000. Based on your...
The Cook Islands’ Dilemma: To Mine or Not to Mine
Triple Pundit
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This article is part of our series on responsible mining solutions. The push for clean energy is fueled by a growing demand for minerals, but conventional mining has a track record of harmful social and environmental impacts. Deep-sea mining is...
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...
Letter: Cook Islands superannuation
Cook Island News
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July 7, 2025
Dear Editor, We’ve just built nine small units costing less than $30,000.00 each which could house up to two people. I was being generous about the $50,000.00 cost for a little unit. Therefore, I do know what I’m talking about 100%. Depreciation,...
Ruta Mave: The reality of immigration in the Cook Islands
Cook Island News
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July 7, 2025
Ruta Tangiiau Mave. Photo: CI NEWS Immigration is the international movement of people from one country to another and is a fundamental aspect of human history, though it was as divisive hundreds of years ago as it is today, writes Ruta Mave....
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 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,...
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...
Avaroa taps Hawaiki to boost Pacific communications, connect Samoa and Australia
Pacific News Service
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Avaroa Cable Limited (ACL) has today announced the selection of Hawaiki Submarine Cable LP (Hawaiki) for the turnkey provision of international capacity from Samoa to Australia. A state-owned enterprise of the Cooks Islands Government, and funded...