Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
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,...
The Tree of Life: Honouring the Coconut Tree's Sacred Place in the Cook Islands Culture
Infonews NZ
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You’ve seen it in nearly every photo of our little paradise — the iconic coconut tree. It’s the unmistakable symbol of tropical life, a mark that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. But in the Cook Islands, the coconut is more than just a...
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...
Will New Zealand’s ‘patronising’ aid freeze push Cook Islands closer to China?
South China Morning Post
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June 29, 2025
What began as a quiet series of infrastructure deals between the Cook Islands and China has erupted into a diplomatic stand-off, with New Zealand halting millions in aid and Pacific leaders accusing Wellington of “patronising” behaviour. New...
Team Cook Islands in high spirit
Cook Island News
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June 28, 2025
The Cook Islands swim team. KIERAN CHAN/ CISNOC-25062710 The young swimming team from the Cook Islands is in Palau, filled with high spirits and ready for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games. Chef de Mission Mark Short says, “We have a very young team in...
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...
Cook Islands heads to Fiji with renewed hope for OFC Women’s Nations Cup
Cook Island News
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June 26, 2025
Cook Islands national women’s football team departed yesterday for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup. CIFA MEDIA/25062522 The Cook Islands national women’s football team departed yesterday for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, set to kick off in...
Cook Islands blocks 37 individuals with gang links at border
Cook Island News
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June 26, 2025
Thirty-seven (37) individuals have been stopped from entering the Cook Islands between June 2024 and April of this year due to their affiliations with gangs overseas. COOK ISLANDS TOURISM/25062530 Thirty-seven (37) individuals with overseas gang...
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...
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....
Cook Islands qualifies for 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Beach Handball
Cook Island News
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June 24, 2025
Cook Islands men’s beach handball team has officially qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, following a determined showing at the 3rd IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia. SUPPLIED/25062303 History was made...
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...
Heath and Smith named Cook Islands flag bearers
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Team Cook Islands co-flag bearer Alanna Smith, right, and Twinna Tangirere are teaming up in the national beach volleyball team for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. 25062416 Cook Islands beach volleyball players Brendon Heath and Alanna Smith...
400 Cook Islanders permitted to bring in medicinal cannabis
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Health Minister Rose Toki-Brown in Parliament yesterday. 25062410 About 400 Cook Islanders are now permitted to bring medicinal cannabis into the country, according to the Minister of Health, Rose Toki-Brown. About 400 Cook Islanders are now...
Pacific news in brief for 1 July
RNZ
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July 1, 2025
Niue government buildings Photo: RNZ/ Sally Round Niue - budget Health, education, social welfare and government salaries have receives a boost in the Niue government's new NZ$12.5 million (US$7.6m) deficit budget. Last week, the island's finance...
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...
Tjibaou on New Caledonia talks in Paris: “We want to resolve this now”
Islands Business
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June 30, 2025
Koror, Palau-It’s been two weeks since the curtains fell on the third UN Ocean Conference. At this largest ever ocean summit, the Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for more global ocean accountability, and offering transformational...
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...
Nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands, says poll
Asia Pacific Report
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June 25, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist A new poll by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union shows that almost half of respondents oppose the Cook Islands having automatic New Zealand citizenship. Thirty percent of the 1000-person sample supported...