Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
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...
Pacific-Māori marriages lead new identity wave - ministry
Pacific Media Network
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Pacific people who marry outside their heritage often choose Māori partners, according to a Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) investigation into this increasingly shared identity among these populations. According to MPP’s ongoing Insights...
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...
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...
Pacific Nations Cup underway at Tafuna Tennis Courts
Talanei
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June 30, 2025
Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula delivered the first serve to open the Pacific Nations Cup at the tennis courts in Tafuna Monday morning. More than 65 tennis players, coaches, and officials from 11 countries are competing in the tournament, which...
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...
Reo Māori Week celebrations end on a high note despite low turnout
Cook Island News
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July 5, 2025
Champions of the 2025 Te Epetoma o te Reo Kūki ‘Āirani Māori Tarere Imene Akateni champions - “Te Rotianga o te Au Mapu”. Pictured is leader Anjima Ruarau (left) and a member of the string band. MELINA ETCHES/25070317 Te Epetoma o te Reo Kūki...
Pacific Ocean Commissioner: Op -ED – Ripples to Waves:
Island Times
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July 1, 2025
By Dr Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner KOROR, 30 JUNE 2025 (PIFS) — 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...
Pacific Mini Games 2025 draws regional viewership, offers wide access to sports coverage
Island Times
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July 1, 2025
By: Eustoria Marie Borja KOROR, Palau (July 1, 2025) — The Pacific Mini Games 2025 opened with vibrant color, traditional dances, and a dazzling fireworks display on Sunday, marking the Games’ return to Palau after 20 years. Despite a rain shower,...
NZ urged to trim government size amid rising spending concerns - Bruce Cotterill
The New Zealand Herald
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July 4, 2025
Suddenly, and unusually, there’s been some commentary about the costs of running our Government. Ironically, many of the commentators are those same parties who stood by and watched the last Government run economic riot over the country’s...
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...
Commentary: Trump’s Mineral Policy Offers Strategic Opportunity in the Pacific
The Ohio Star
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July 5, 2025
by Wyatt J. Greco In an April 2025 executive order, President Trump affirmed that offshore critical minerals are key to creating supply chains that do not depend on adversaries like the People’s Republic of China. While US leadership on deep-sea...
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...
Cook Islands at 60: Do we really need New Zealand aid?
Cook Island News
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June 21, 2025
Happier times … Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters in February last year. This week, New Zealand through Peters paused $18.2 million of core sector support funding for the Cook Islands, after its...
Cook Islands seeks to destabilise NZ on eve of China visit
The Daily Blog
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June 20, 2025
NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China agreements New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China. New Zealand raised concerns in February, after...
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...
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...
Cook Islands PM decries New Zealand’s ‘patronising’ aid pause
The Straits Times
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June 20, 2025
Cook Islands PM Mark Brown defended his nation’s ties with China, saying they did not “compromise” its independence.PHOTO: AFP WELLINGTON – Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on June 20 condemned “patronising” neighbour New Zealand, which...