New Zealand: Lean into a role bridging superpowers, small islands                

New Zealand has long been viewed as the quiet achiever of the Pacific – a country that has long cultivated credibility in the Pacific through history, migration and cultural ties to the islands. But now, as China’s strategic competition with the...

Tourism boom prompts police to implement new five-year strategy

Police Commissioner Teokotai Joseph. POLICE MEDIA/25090415 Cook Islands Police are implementing a new five-year strategy to deal with the impacts of a booming tourism industry, which has been linked to a rise in crime and traffic incidents....

Helsinki Court Dismisses Charges in Case of Cable Damage by Tanker Eagle S

The Helsinki District Court issued a surprise judgment on Friday, October 3, in the case of the master and two officers from the tanker Eagle S who had been charged with aggravated vandalism related to the damage to subsea cables. While saying the...

Amplifying farmers' voices - Findings from the Regional Research Agenda

The Regional Research Agenda (RRA) is committed to ensuring that farmers' perspectives and challenges are central to agricultural research and policy development. Through the RRA, researchers across the Pacific have been working closely with local...

PNA leaders spend day at sea

PACIFIC nations must unite against deep-sea mining, Cook Islands youth leader Alana Matamaru Smith said at a recent regional meeting. And she has warned the Sixth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific in Nadi, Fiji, that...

Inside the country so beautiful you have to sign a pledge to protect it before entering

Tucked in the Western Pacific lays a country made up of more than 300 islands with pristine turquoise waters and dense jungle. Located north of Indonesia and west of the Philippines, the Republic of Palau has been at the forefront of eco-tourism...

Inside the country so beautiful you have to sign a pledge to protect it before entering

Tucked in the Western Pacific lays a country made up of more than 300 islands with pristine turquoise waters and dense jungle. Located north of Indonesia and east of the Philippines, the Republic of Palau has been at the forefront of eco-tourism...

Letters: Penrhyn hub a political hoo-haa?

Tuesday 2 September 2025 | Written by webmaster | Published in Dear Editor, The recent announcement by the Ministry of Marine Resources of turning Tongareva (Penrhyn) Island into a fishing hub in the northern Cook Islands has to be one of the...

From Silk Road to Blue Pacific: Tourism as a Bridge to Shared Prosperity

Tourism has always been about connection. From the ancient Silk Road to the vast ocean highways of the Blue Pacific, it links cultures, fosters understanding, and creates prosperity through shared journeys. The Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO)...

France urges caution on deep sea mining

METUA Mitchell is sailing with a mission – to protect the ocean he calls home and to keep the tradition of Pacific navigation alive. The 29-year-old Cook Islander joins a diverse crew on a historic voyage on the Uto Ni Yalo, hoping to deliver the...

Pukapuka-Nassau embraces Tuna Plan as a pathway to youth employment

The Ministry of Marine Resources officials with Pukapuka executives during the Tuna Management and Development Plan consultation on Saturday. Lisa Williams/MMR/ 25083103 In the northernmost reaches of the Cook Islands, the islands of...

Lost in Space: The Limits of Geolocation in a Satellite-Connected World

“Where are you?” is not an easy question to answer on the Internet. The telephone system’s address plan embedded a certain amount of physical location information in the fixed-line network, and a full E.164 telephone number indicated your location...

Ports Authority upgrades fleet to boost efficiency and safety

Cook Islands Ports Authority officially welcomed the arrival of its newest addition to its fleet of heavy equipment, a 45-tonne SANY reach stacker at a special blessing ceremony held in Avatiu on Friday afternoon. PORTS/25081706 The Cook Islands...

Global youth programme offers up to $100,000 in seed funding

Muri Environment Care, a local NGO, is devoted to advancing ecological restoration efforts through the development of a specialised plant nursery and through experimental, Cook Islands-specific restoration activities. COOK ISLANDS TOURISM/25082712...

Cambodia and Saint Lucia Forge Diplomatic Relations

Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Saint Lucia's Minister of External Affairs Alva Baptiste sign a communique on September 26 at the UN Headquarters in New York. Photo from Cambodian Foreign Ministry:Facebook PHNOM PENH – Cambodia and...

How to regulate an unregulated area: the deep-sea mining challenge

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. Experts are exploring...

Te Maeva Nui NZ 2025: A Cultural Celebration is Back!

Photo: Auckland for Kids Te Maeva Nui NZ is Aotearoa New Zealand’s premier Cook Islands cultural festival, proudly hosted by the Te Maeva Nui ō Aotearoa NZ Charitable Trust. Since its debut in 2019, the festival has grown into the largest platform...

Growth in the Pacific to accelerate to 4.1 percent in 2025,...

Economic growth in the Pacific is projected to accelerate to 4.1 percent in 2025 and moderate to 3.4 percent in 2026, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship economic...

Pilot reveals cruel twist that ended career

Brent Meredith was born to fly. Having gotten his pilot’s licence at 16, he went on to be one of the first pilots for Virgin’s Australian arm Virgin Blue – later renamed Virgin Australia. Captain Meredith would be at the controls for 20 years,...

Pilot reveals cruel twist that ended career

Brent Meredith was born to fly. Having gotten his pilot’s licence at 16, he went on to be one of the first pilots for Virgin’s Australian arm Virgin Blue – later renamed Virgin Australia. Captain Meredith would be at the controls for 20 years,...