Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
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...
New Zealand chiropractic interns bring relief and hope to Rarotonga
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
New Zealand College of Chiropractic intern Carlos Fung performing a spinal check up yesterday. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/ 25070730 Final-year interns from the New Zealand College of Chiropractic are bringing hope, healing, and holistic health to the Cook...
Tonga claims shot put gold as 2025 Pacific Mini Games draw to a close
RNZ
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July 8, 2025
Tu'utafaiva, 28, is mentored by former world and Olympic Games champion Valerie Adams, and recorded a throw of 14.76 metres to claim top spot. Photo: Facebook / Tonga Sports Association & National Olympic Committee Tonga's Ata Ma'ama Tu'utafaiva...
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...
A new country in the Pacific — Bougainville
International Politics and Society
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July 8, 2025
A historic moment for Bougainville is within reach — the Pacific archipelago is on the verge of achieving independence from Papua New Guinea. In the 2019 referendum, almost 98 per cent of the population voted in favour of secession. Two years...
Tahiti extends lead on Day 7 of Pacific Mini Games 2025; Athletes push limits for country and glory
Island Times
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July 8, 2025
KOROR, Palau — With one day remaining in the Pacific Mini Games 2025, Tahiti has extended its dominant lead in the overall medal standings, closing Day 7 with a commanding 59 gold medals. Photos below capture the grit, passion, and unity of...
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...
Running the show: The youngsters behind the scenes at the Pacific Mini Games
RNZ
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July 8, 2025
10-year-old photographer, Yoshi. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Coco Lance As the Pacific Mini Games heads towards to its closing ceremony, the spotlight remains firmly on the athletes, teams, and the sporting achievements making headlines across the region....
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 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...
From transition to transformation: Our economic journey
Cook Island News
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July 7, 2025
Financial Secretary Garth Henderson. SBMA/23011838 As we mark 60 years of self-governance, we also mark a critical economic shift, from transition to transformation. Transition was our response to crisis. When COVID-19 brought global tourism to a...
Albi The Wolves Announce The Fun-Raiser Tour of Aotearoa New Zealand
Undertheradar.co.nz
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July 7, 2025
Flag-bearers for Aotearoa's indie-folk community from 2014 to right now and beyond, Albi & The Wolves have their sights set on touring Europe and the UK in 2026, and are humbly requesting your help to make it happen. They've announced The...
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 anticipated New Zealand funding pause, dialogue ongoing to repair trust
Cook Island News
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June 19, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown with New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands Catherine Graham at the Matariki celebration held at Tamarind House in Tupapa last night. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/25061818 Cook Islands government anticipated the...
New Zealand’s funding pause to Cook Islands is ‘not the Pacific Way’
Pacific Media Network
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New Zealand’s suspension of funding to the Cook Islands government has seen tensions rise among officials and experts. This follows reports that New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters, withheld more than $18 million because...
Ben Morgan’s Pacific Update: Chinese aircraft carriers exercise near Japan – China’s force projection capability is increasing
The Daily Blog
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July 6, 2025
On 30 June, the People’s Liberation Army – Navy confirmed two Chinese aircraft carriers; PLANS Shandong and Liaoning exercised together in the Western Pacific. The ships conducted a range of drills practicing defensive and offensive operations....
Conference unites 15 Pacific universities
The National
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THE Pacific Islands Universities Regional Network (PIURN) conference brought together 15 member universities from the Pacific Island countries and Territories to the PNG University of Technology in Lae, Morobe. PIURN coordinator Mathilde Souchon,...
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...