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Watch: Preparing for the biggest Cook Islands festival in Aotearoa

Watch: Preparing for the biggest Cook Islands festival in Aotearoa

Te Maeva Nui NZ is seen as the largest Cook Islands cultural festival outside of the Cook Islands. Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor went along to an audition night for the only team outside of Auckland, Oire-Te Whanganui a Tara with camera man Mark Papalii....

'Puts New Zealand in a weaker position' - expert on Peters' Cook Islands move

'Puts New Zealand in a weaker position' - expert on Peters' Cook Islands move

The Cook Islands did not think it needed to consult with New Zealand on the China agreement. Photo: LIU BIN The decision by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters to suspend payment of aid to the Cook Islands could backfire on the New Zealand...

Bridging Divides: A call for new dialogue amid NZ's suspension of aid to the Cook Islands

Bridging Divides: A call for new dialogue amid NZ's suspension of aid to the Cook Islands

As a Cook Islander and political analyst, I am deeply concerned by the New Zealand Government’s recent decision to pause core budgetary aid to the Cook Islands. The action was taken in response to the signing of a Comprehensive Strategic...

China could be major beneficiary of New Zealand's move on Cook Islands - security expert

China could be major beneficiary of New Zealand's move on Cook Islands - security expert

The Cook Islands did not think it needed to consult with New Zealand on the China agreement. Photo: LIU BIN The decision by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters to suspend payment of aid to the Cook Islands could backfire on the New Zealand...

Xi to Luxon: No China-New Zealand conflict, even as Cook Islands pivot raises eyebrows

Xi to Luxon: No China-New Zealand conflict, even as Cook Islands pivot raises eyebrows

BEIJING, June 20 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said today that Beijing had “no fundamental conflicts of interest” with New Zealand, as he welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on an official visit. Luxon’s trip comes at a time of tension with...

New Zealand Halts Funding Amid Cook Islands-China Ties

New Zealand Halts Funding Amid Cook Islands-China Ties

In a significant diplomatic move, New Zealand has suspended millions in funding to the Cook Islands due to growing concerns about the Pacific nation’s agreements with China. Officials from the New Zealand Foreign Minister’s office announced that...

New Zealand halts funding to former colony the Cook Islands over China deals

New Zealand halts funding to former colony the Cook Islands over China deals

New Zealand has halted funding to the Cook Islands over what it considers the small Pacific nation's deepening ties with China. While the Cook Islands is a self-governing country, New Zealand remains its largest funder, and has paused $16.9...

New Zealand halts aid to Cook Islands over China deals

New Zealand halts aid to Cook Islands over China deals

WELLINGTON — New Zealand's government halted aid to close partner the Cook Islands on Thursday because of a row over agreements the Pacific island nation struck with China. New Zealand "paused" the payments and would not resume them until the Cook...

New Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals with China

New Zealand halts millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over deals with China

The self-governing Cook Islands, a country of 17,000 people, has a “free association” relationship with its former colonial ruler New Zealand, which provides budgetary assistance as well as help on foreign affairs and defence read more New...

Tensions rise as New Zealand freezes millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over China deals

Tensions rise as New Zealand freezes millions of dollars in aid to Cook Islands over China deals

Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our...

Pacific Workshop to Promote Sustainable Gastronomy Tourism

Pacific Workshop to Promote Sustainable Gastronomy Tourism

UN Tourism, in partnership with the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and in collaboration with the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), will officially launch the “Development of...

Decades of climate uncertainty: Cook Islands grower speaks

Decades of climate uncertainty: Cook Islands grower speaks

After more than 30 years of farming on her Takuvaine plantation, Jean Tekura Mason says climate change has disrupted everything she understood about farming. “I’ve been a planter, gardener for over 30 years basically and what I’ve noticed over...

Hawaii Coast Guard crew wraps up enforcement mission in Cook Islands

Hawaii Coast Guard crew wraps up enforcement mission in Cook Islands

1/2 Swipe or click to see more AUSTIN WILEY / U.S. COAST GUARD / JUNE 7 A 26-foot over-the-horizon small boat carrying Coast Guard crew, two Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources fisheries officers and a translator from the U.S. Marine Corps...

Muri Lagoon cleanup for World Ocean Day

Muri Lagoon cleanup for World Ocean Day

Waste was collected from the Muri Beach coastline, streams, motu and surrounding areas in June 2022. TIS/22061711 Today, Saturday July 5, is World Ocean Day, and Muri Lagoon will once again become the focus of local environmental action as...

USCGC Harriet Lane Conducts Maritime Law Enforcement Operations With Cook Islands Partners 

USCGC Harriet Lane Conducts Maritime Law Enforcement Operations With Cook Islands Partners 

From Coast Guard 14th District External Affairs, June 16, 2025 RAROTONGA, Cook Islands – The U.S. Coast Guard concluded bilateral maritime law enforcement operations alongside Cook Islands law enforcement partners offshore Rarotonga Friday. The...

Juvenile seal found at Muri beach dies

Juvenile seal found at Muri beach dies

A juvenile seal was found stranded at the Muri beach on Thursday morning. SUPPLIED/25070309 /25070310/25070324 A juvenile seal discovered at Muri beach on Thursday passed away after being taken to Te Are Manu Vet Clinic. The Ministry of Marine...

Cook Islands announces protection zone for migrating Oceania humpback whales

Cook Islands announces protection zone for migrating Oceania humpback whales

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown arrives at Tuurangawaewae Marae Photo: Layla Bailey-McDowell / RNZ Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown has announced the creation of a zone to protect the migratory corridors of the endangered Oceania...

Strengthening crisis planning between Australia and Cook Islands

Strengthening crisis planning between Australia and Cook Islands

Australia’s Pacific Coordinator in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Crisis Preparedness and Management Branch, Angela Johnson (third from left), visited Rarotonga to enhance cooperation on crisis response and consular planning. She is...

US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane and Cook Islands successful joint operation

US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane and Cook Islands successful joint operation

From left, Bernnan Augustine, Bermy Ariihee, Sai Sarau and Tyler Broch. US Coast Guard and Maritime Cook Islands TEITIMOANA TAIRI/25061334 Two officers from the Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) recently collaborated with the US Coast Guard in...

Cook Islands engages at global platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 in Geneva

Cook Islands engages at global platform for Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 in Geneva

Emergency Management Cook Islands Director John Strickland (far right) emphasised that “greater access to technology to support national-level efforts to strengthen resilience can help overcome some of our remoteness and connectivity challenges....

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