Pacific Resort Hotel Group Celebrates Finalist Nominations in2025 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards

Pacific Resort Hotel Group is honoured to announce that all four of its properties have been named finalists in the 2025 Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards. The nominations recognise excellence in visitor experiences, customer care,...

Pacific countries review impact of biosecurity capacity building programmes

Biosecurity officers from across the Pacific met in Fiji recently to review the impact of biosecurity training programmes delivered under the Safe Agricultural Trade Facilitation through Economic Integration in the Pacific (SAFE Pacific) project...

New Zealand tightens international adoptions, Sāmoa most affected

The New Zealand Government is pausing the recognition of some international adoptions, primarily affecting Sāmoa, due to concerns over child abuse in cases involving adoptions from overseas. Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee says efforts are...

Cook Islands will be ready to host Forum Leaders meeting in November: PM Brown

By Pita Ligaiula in Seoul Cook Islands Prime Minister and Forum Chair Mark Brown says preparation are well underway for the upcoming Forum Leaders meeting in November. Brown told Pacific journalists in Seoul, the Forum Leaders Meeting is a...

Cook Islands model inspires Pacific youth as the Face of Fusion 2026

In an inspiring celebration of Pacific culture and creativity, Cook Islands-born model Teokotai Tupou has been crowned the ‘Face of Fusion 2026’ for the Pacific Fusion Fashion Show, marking a major milestone in her promising career. Raised in the...

U.S moves to reinvigorate Pacific partnership with big pledges in Port…

The United States has rolled out a sweeping package of economic, security, and health commitments to Pacific Island nations, signalling what it calls a “reinvigorated” partnership with the region. At a U.S-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) roundtable in...

Country officials convene to align country priorities and needs in the Asia-Pacific region

The GEF OFP Regional Training Workshop and Asia Pacific Constituency Meeting took place in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on May 13-16, 2025. Both events brought together 14 countries from the Asia-Pacific Region, including: Cook Islands, Fiji,...

Māori Stage Removed from Polyfest

Role Funding: A decision was made to split Māori events off from the main cultural festival Polyfest in Auckland, moving them to a different venue and date. This change has led to concern among some about the impact on cultural unity. Auckland’s...

Pacific Leaders witness Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Celebrations

Pacific Island leaders gathered at Independence Hill this morning to witness the flag-raising ceremony for Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence Day. The event was attended by a number of regional heads of state and government, including: Mark...

Is the Green Climate Fund starting to deliver for the Pacific?

For Pacific Island countries, securing enough money to deal with the consequences of climate change has proved an arduous task. Despite facing existential threats from rising seas and collapsing fisheries, the region has struggled to tap into the...

Pacific news in brief for 15 September

Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Fiji - bureau Four officers from Fiji's Counter Narcotic Bureau have been arrested for possession of illegal narcotics. As a result, the Fijian government is closing the bureau down entirely and returning all officers...

Looking backwards to move forward: 50 years of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori

This week is the 50th anniversary of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori. To celebrate, we’re running a three-part series looking at the past, present and future of te reo Māori in Aotearoa. Ko tēnei wiki te huritau rima tekau tau o te wiki o te reo Māori. Kua...

This Weekend Sees The Year’s Second And Final Solar Eclipse

Topline A deep solar eclipse will occur at sunrise as seen from the Southern Hemisphere this weekend. In the wake of a partial solar eclipse in North America on March 29, skywatchers in New Zealand, Antarctica and the South Pacific who get up...

Cook Islands Coach pleased with team’s progress in Fiji

[File Photo] The Cook Islands cricket team is adapting well to the conditions and atmosphere in Fiji for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier. Head coach Dan Vann shared that the team is enjoying their time in Fiji, especially...

Cook Islands Immigration Upgrade Passenger Processing System

Press Release – UN Trade and Development The UN Trade and Development backed ASYCUDA technologies – ASYPX, is a fully integrated, border management system. Cook Islands Immigration has launched the 2nd generation (latest version) of the...

SI, Cook Islands explore tourism and cultural cooperation

The Solomon Islands and Cook Islands are exploring new areas of cooperation in tourism and culture, following a meeting between the two countries’ Ministers on the sidelines of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara on Friday....

Barry Soper: Senior political correspondent on the Cook Island's deadlocked deal

The Pacific Islands Forum wraps up in Honiara - and the standoff with the Cook Islands remains unresolved. Barry Soper told Heather duPlessis-Allan that the block between Mark Brown and Christopher Luxon is still present, despite the two leaders...

Cook Islands diaspora drives mental health initiative for better care

Two Pacific health advocates are collaborating on a project to translate and adapt mental health screening measures for Cook Islands communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The initiative aims to overcome language barriers exposed in a previous...

'Clear actions' mark the end of the 54th Pacific Islands Forum

Pacific leaders from 18 member states got together for their official "family photo" at the 54th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders' Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands. 11 September 2025 Photo: Pacific Islands Forum The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)...

PM Marape Launches Landmark Fisheries Strategies, Calls for Pacific to Harness Ocean Wealth

Prime Minister James Marape has urged Papua New Guinea and its Pacific neighbours to take full control of their ocean resources, declaring that the region must no longer remain a “beggar” while foreign powers exploit its fisheries wealth. He was...