More Top Stories
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
2 September 2024
Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
13 August 2024
ICI explains road works delay in front of old Sheraton site
10 August 2024
Housing crisis hits tourism industry
27 July 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
Opinion
Letter: What are we celebrating?
Dear Editor, In January 2024, a year ago now, on a beach at Mauke, two older teenaged girls kicked and bashed a younger teenaged girl with intellectual disabilities, while the third girl (friend of the other two) filmed it and put it on the internet.
Ruta Mave: Passport plan leaves Cook Islands vulnerable and isolated
Prime Minister Mark Brown’s passport proposal presents as more personal than from the people. He sounds like a spoilt teenager who has graduated from his ‘L’ plate to a full driver’s licence, declaring to his parents that he is all grown up now, and wants to be independent, writes Ruta Mave.
Sunday flights referendum:
Wilkie Rasmussen – Cook Isands News columnist A necessary abuse of democracy Banning Sunday flights has been on the calling cards of some Aitutaki people.
Mollycoddling of children
I was reading an article recently regarding how we are not bringing up our children to have ‘resilience’. It reminded me of a number of references I have made on how parents in the Cook Islands are raising their children. One of those articles dealt with child abuse and the risk that this poses for us going forward.
Why has the law changed in respect of occupation rights?
The concept of occupation rights (simply a right to occupy a designated area of a block of land) was first introduced in the Cook Islands when the Land Court, just after the turn of the 20th century, established the “house sites” that line both sides of the main road in Avarua and in Arorangi.
Memories of a favourite teacher
Do you remember your favorite teacher?
Truthfulness the essential virtue
The virtue of Truthfulness is upheld in all sacred scriptures as an essential virtue. Telling the truth means that we keep our word.
Cook Islanders unwanted as solicitor general?
There was a fierce global debate some years ago at Universities, in particular in Commonwealth countries and the United States. It was whether to practise “preferential treatment” for people with different ethnic backgrounds from say “pakeha” in New Zealand.
New year chance 'to make all things new'
I love new beginnings - a new year, the first day of school, a birthday. It is a chance to start over, “to make all things new.” (Revelations 21:5)
Parliament now a social event notice board
Parliament sat and rose after two measly days of sitting. It would be fair to say, it was simply a waste of time.
Critics, time to eat your hearts out!
Friday, December 18, marks the crowning event in a story of unflinching determination, commitment and daring, to open what could be the largest building in the Cook Islands, Te Patupaepae o Enuamanu, Enuamanu III.
'Santa from Hell' faces day of reckoning
We Cook Islanders like to be renowned for our kindness, God-fearing Christian saintliness and for being civil to one another.
Family Law Bill could do with additions
I do not expect the important Family Law Bill to be put before Parliament for the two-day maximum priority Christmas party sitting of Parliament next week.
Same-sex debate galvanises opinions
I want to expand on a topic which I touched on briefly previously.
Homecoming on my mind.
Dan and I are beyond ready to complete our long trip away and come home to Paradise.
Budget grab could be disaster too
By Norman George, lawyer
Caring for our elders vitally important
While we are traveling outside the Cook Islands, I rely on friends emailing or messaging me with news from home.
Civil defence failure is shameful
By Norman George, Lawyer “Rarotonga, we have a problem.” A spate of recent drownings and what appears to be the systematic failure of the police and other emergency services to react on time is catastrophic, shameful and inexcusable.
A weekend to remember
Norman George - laywer Sometimes it is glorious to be away and isolated- protected by the Pacific Ocean. Events this last weekend around the world is a mixture of horror and glory.
Avatiu MP faces difficult decisions
A week can be a long time in politics.
One law for all Cook Islanders
Unless I am wrong, and someone should correct me if I am, traffic accidents fall under the category of “strict liability” offences.
The Cook Islands Act 1915 – still strong after 100 years
2015 has been a year of milestones, the most notable of them being the 50th anniversary of the beginning of self-rule in the Cook Islands in free association with New Zealand. Last Sunday marked another important event in the history of this nation: 100 years since the passage of the Cook Islands Act 1915. With land occupation right issues having been in the headlines recently, Lawyer Brian Mason details how the Act came about.
