Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Cook Islands MP warns workers to pay more tax despite minimum wage increase
RNZ
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July 10, 2025
The minimum wage up slightly from NZ$9.50 to $10 (around US$6) on 1 July. Photo: 123RF A Cook Islands MP is accusing the government of taxing low-wage earners more by not adjusting the tax-free threshold with a minimum wage increase. The changes...
Cook Islands Cabinet defers decision on controversial immigration policy changes
Cook Island News
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July 10, 2025
Cook Islands United Party leader Teariki Heather, with fellow United Party MPs Robert Heather and Tim Varu in Parliament on June 21, 2025. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU/25062102 Cook Islands Cabinet has ‘deferred until further notice’ a decision regarding...
Cook Islands set for historic debut
Cook Island News
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July 10, 2025
For the first time in history, the Cook Islands women's basketball team will step onto the court at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Division. FIBA/25070921 From a dream born in 2017 to a team built on family bonds, Cook Islands are ready to make...
Cook Islands govt to consider increasing sugary drinks and alcohol tax proposal
Pacific Media Network
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The proposal to increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol will be considered by the Cook Islands Cabinet this month as the Health Ministry ramps up efforts to tackle rising chronic health problems in the country. A draft gazette listing...
‘True sportsmanship’: Chef de mission Short praises Team Cook Islands
Cook Island News
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July 9, 2025
Samasoni Mose Hewitt won gold in the Open Men High Jump at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. ACI/25070813 As the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau ended yesterday, Chef de Mission Mark Short says he was extremely proud of the athletes that...
Telecom Niue vs Starlink; government yet to decide
Television Niue
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July 11, 2025
Minister of Finance Crossley Tatui says that the government has yet to make a final decision on allowing Starlink units to operate legally in Niue. In an interview with BCN news last week, Minister Tatui said that the government is awaiting a...
Family, faith, and firsts: Cook Islands set for historic debut
FIBA Basketball
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GOLD COAST (Australia) - For the first time in history, the Cook Islands women's basketball team will step onto the court at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2025 Division B - and it’s not just a debut, it’s a dream come true years in the making....
Peters rejects claim Aotearoa funding freeze to Cook Islands is ‘patronising’
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. Photo composite: Newsroom/25070713 New Zealand Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters rejects suggestions that pausing of development funding to the...
Letter: Cook Islands superannuation returns
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
Dear Editor, This is a response to Ellena Tavioni (Cook Islands superannuation, July 7, 2025). Kia Orana Ellena, Thank you once again for your follow-up letter. I commend your ability to construct a house for under $30,000. Based on your...
The Cook Islands’ Dilemma: To Mine or Not to Mine
Triple Pundit
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This article is part of our series on responsible mining solutions. The push for clean energy is fueled by a growing demand for minerals, but conventional mining has a track record of harmful social and environmental impacts. Deep-sea mining is...
Athletics lead Team Cook Islands’ final medal push at Mini Games
Cook Island News
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July 7, 2025
Team Cook Islands hosted a thank you ceremony for their village mayor, the village liaison, the state governor for Ngaraard (the sister state), the Palau Community College president and their sister state liaison over the weekend. CISNOC/25070650...
Ruta Mave: The reality of immigration in the Cook Islands
Cook Island News
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July 7, 2025
Ruta Tangiiau Mave. Photo: CI NEWS Immigration is the international movement of people from one country to another and is a fundamental aspect of human history, though it was as divisive hundreds of years ago as it is today, writes Ruta Mave....
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...
Cook Islands explores revival of flagging pearl industry
Cook Island News
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July 3, 2025
Cook Islands black pearls are cultivated on the northern group island of Manihiki. A Kora Pearls staff member is pictured assisting a visitor with pearl processing. COOK ISLANDS TOURISM/25070209 The Ministry of Marine Resources is exploring...
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 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...
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...