Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
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...
Rarotonga’s Kairua crowned Miss Cook Islands of Queensland 2025
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Miss Cook Islands of Queenland, Australia 2025 Praise Kairua with president of Miss Cook Islands of Australia Association, Dylan Hughes. VERA DEAN/25063028 The Miss Cook Islands of Australia Association has officially announced its Miss Cook...
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 super fund surpasses $300 million as withdrawal concerns linger
Cook Island News
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July 1, 2025
Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund CEO Damien Beddoes. PHOTO: AL WILLIAMS/22101430 The Cook Islands superannuation fund has surpassed $300 million in total market value of investments, but its 25 per cent lump sum withdrawal limit at...
Cook Islands swimmers make golden splash at Pacific Mini Games
Cook Island News
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July 1, 2025
Team Cook Islands is making waves at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Swimmer Jacob Story, middle, dubbed the team’s “golden boy,” claimed gold in the 200m breaststroke final and followed it up with a silver in the 100m individual medley...
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...
Story and Laban lead the way as Cook Islands’ medal tally grows
Cook Island News
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July 2, 2025
Team Cook Islands is making waves at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Swimmer Jacob Story, middle, dubbed the team’s “golden boy,” claimed gold in the 200m breaststroke final and followed it up with a silver in the 100m individual medley...
Letter: Cook Islands sovereignty debate
Cook Island News
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July 2, 2025
Dear Editor, Joe T Public’s (JoeTP) (bully-boy tactics letter 20 June) was the clever work of a sophist (a person who peddles a fallacious argument to support a false conclusion) and reads very much like it is Government’s position and coming from...
Saving the Cook Islands Māori language
Cook Island News
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July 1, 2025
The top three students from the Tateni Kōrero Apii Tuātai (Primary Schools Māori Speech Competition) held yesterday at Te Are Karioi Nui (National Auditorium). Pictured from left: Ana-Nui Wichman – Apii Takitumu (3rd place), Hinamoana Olah – Apii...
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...
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 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...
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....
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...
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...
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 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...
Cook Islands Prime Minister slams NZ aid freeze as ‘patronising’
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 22, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand’s decision to pause development aid is patronising and will harm the country’s most vulnerable citizens. In a ministerial statement to Parliament on Thursday (Cook Islands time), Brown...