China willing to promote common devt with PICs including Cook Islands, FM responds to recently signed China-Cook Islands agreements

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian When asked to comment on the agreements signed by the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands with the Chinese government, including on access to port facilities on the island, undersea mining and a few...

Visitor behaviour key focus in ensuring travellers engage respectfully with Cook Islands, Tourism tells PAC

Visitors arrive at Rarotonga International Airport. Photo: RNZI Walter Zweifel/24120401 Cook Islands Tourism says that while managing visitor behaviour is an ongoing effort, success depends on delivering clear messaging across multiple channels,...

Why Flying Can Be Good For Climate Change And Local Economies

Young Asian woman carrying suitcase, walking by the window at airport terminal.getty Has flying become the ultimate climate sin? Air travel is often cast as a scapegoat when it comes to tourism, but the numbers may tell a different story. Only 11%...

Landmark Deepsea Environment Moorings Successfully Deployed in the Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has reached a significant milestone with the first-ever deployment of three deep-sea environmental monitoring mooring arrays north of Aitutaki (figure 1). Conducted under approved exploration licenses, this initiative was a joint...

Our voyage to Statehood, 60 years on: understanding the nature and practice of free-association as we reflect on our development journey 

Prime Minister Mark Brown. SUPPLIED. This year, the Cook Islands marks 60 years of self-governance, an historic milestone in our voyage to statehood, by Mark Brown, Prime Minister of the Cook Islands. In 1965, our people chose to shape our own...

Environmental risk weighs heavily on the possible rewards of deep sea mining 

Many industry stakeholders and policymakers view deep sea mining (DSM) as a panacea for securing sufficient supplies of critical minerals, which are needed for clean energy and defense technologies. In March, the White House issued an executive...

Cook Islands National Council of Women welcomes NZ High Commissioner

Members of the Cook Islands National Council of Women with the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, Catherine Graham. TALAIA MIKA/25010910 The Cook Islands National Council of Women (CINCW) welcomed New Zealand’s new high...

Five Cook Islanders awarded counselling scholarships to boost community support

David Pori, Selane Tairea, and police constable Vaai Basinet are three of the five Punanga Turuturu Itivaine’s USP Diploma of Counselling recipients. MELINA ETCHES/25031004 Five individuals from Rarotonga and Atiu received scholarships from...

Australia-Tuvalu mobility pathway: does it address the climate crisis?

Tuvalu/Photo courtesy of Jess Marinaccio On June 11, the Tuvaluan and Australian governments issued press releases announcing that the inaugural ballot for the Falepili Mobility Pathway would open on June 16. Part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili...

Aust-Tuvalu mobility pathway: Does it address climate crisis?

On June 11, the Tuvaluan and Australian governments issued press releases announcing that the inaugural ballot for the Falepili Mobility Pathway would open on June 16. Part of the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty, the mobility pathway falls...

Avarua protestors demand transparency in the China-Cook Islands agreement

Protest in front of the parliament building of Cook Islands. Screenshot from the YouTube video of 1News. Fair use. Around 400 people joined a rare protest in front of the parliament building in the Cook Islands capital of Avarua on February 18,...

Continuing hysteria in NZ over Cook Islands’ deal with China

The New Zealand political and media establishment continued to ratchet up tensions with the Cook Islands over the past week, as more details were released about the small Pacific country’s recent agreement with China. Cook Islands Prime Minister...

Island Hopping: the PRC’s Quest for Strategic Maritime Influence and Resource Security through the Cook Islands Partnership

Executive Summary: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Cook Islands signed two agreements in February that extend Beijing’s engagement in the South Pacific to include deep-sea exploration and dual-use maritime infrastructure. Beijing...

Exclusive with the Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown

27:13 Editor's Note: Pacific islands countries are increasingly looking to seal partnerships to enhance cooperation across key sectors, including trade, tourism, infrastructure, climate resilience and renewable energy, as well as seabed minerals...

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...

Helen Clark’s global wisdom on NZ/Cook Islands/China/US is the voice we need right now

Helen Clark, the second female Prime Minister of New Zealand, former UNDP head, multiply-vetoed UN Secretary-General nominee, Mt Eden resident, has been on something of a media rampage recently. Given that it’s not about the hours and frequency of...

Opinion: Cook Islands-China deals: ‘The devil is in the detail’

Merita Tuari’i. SUPPLIED/25022420 While the Action Plan 2025-2030 for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) and a couple of MoU’s between the Cook Islands and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) have been signed, Cook Islands local...

Peters to seek answers from China over warships, Cook Islands deal

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is in Beijing for three high-level meetings this week. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER Foreign Minister Winston Peters will seek answers on the issues of Chinese warships in the Tasman Sea and a controversial agreement...

Cook Islands families and businesses set New Year resolutions

Tata Toeta, an 80-year-old mother of six, continues to live a life of independence and service to her community. Living alone in Arorangi and voluntarily caring for stray dogs, Toeta spends her time making traditional head eis, a skill she has...

China secures maritime presence in Cook Islands

A day after China warned its three military ships would be live weapons testing between New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands has today released a controversial agreement indicating Beijing has secured a maritime presence there. The...