Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Story and Laban lead the way as Cook Islands’ medal tally grows
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...

Letter: Cook Islands sovereignty debate
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...

Students celebrate Te Reo Māori
Te Tarere Purua (Poetry) competition for secondary school female students was held at Te Are Karioi Nui. From left: Terii Tuakana of Tereora College (Year 10) placed first, Charlee Puna of Tereora College (Year 9) second, and Manuarii Teatai of...

Cook Islands swimmers make golden splash at Pacific Mini Games
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 engages in regional dialogue on social impacts of labour mobility
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 super fund surpasses $300 million as withdrawal concerns linger
Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund CEO Damien Beddoes. PHOTO: AL WILLIAMS/22101430 The Cook Islands superannuation fund has surpassed $300 million in total market value of investments, but its 25 per cent lump sum withdrawal limit at...

OTF Pacific Nations Cup- American Samoa 2025 Opens
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Tennis Association (ASTA) held its opening ceremony, Monday, June 30, 2025, for the International Tennis Federation/Oceania Tennis Federation (OTF) “2025 Pacific Nations Cup” hosted in American Samoa...

Pacific-Māori marriages lead new identity wave - ministry
Pacific people who marry outside their heritage often choose Māori partners, according to a Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP) investigation into this increasingly shared identity among these populations. According to MPP’s ongoing Insights...

Saving the Cook Islands Māori language
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...

Pacific Ocean Commissioner: Op -ED – Ripples to Waves:
By Dr Filimon Manoni, Pacific Ocean Commissioner KOROR, 30 JUNE 2025 (PIFS) — It’s been two weeks since the curtains fell on the third UN Ocean Conference. At this largest ever ocean summit, the Pacific voice echoed as a collective, calling for...

The 'English Seychelles' named UK's prettiest beach - beating paradise destinations in the Maldives and Australia
By TEDDY DUFF Published: 07:14 EDT, 2 July 2025 | Updated: 07:14 EDT, 2 July 2025 A relatively unknown UK beach described as the ‘English Seychelles’ has been named one of the world’s best – beating paradise bays in Australia, the Maldives and and...

Iran’s Women’s Basketball Team to Travel to China Wednesday Night
The eight teams in Division B are divided into two groups. The competition will be held in Shenzhen from July 13 to 20. Groups: Group A: Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, India, Tahiti Group B: Iran, Thailand, Mongolia, Cook Islands The wimnner will...

Pacific Nations Cup underway at Tafuna Tennis Courts
Governor Pulaalii Nikolao Pula delivered the first serve to open the Pacific Nations Cup at the tennis courts in Tafuna Monday morning. More than 65 tennis players, coaches, and officials from 11 countries are competing in the tournament, which...

Cook Islands launches first-ever National Awards system: Te Tango Raumaire o Avaiki
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
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...

Singapore Women vs Indonesia Women 2025: Full schedule, squads, match timings, and live-streaming details
The Indonesia Women’s cricket team will tour Singapore to play a three-match T20I series at the Singapore National Cricket Ground between Wednesday, July 2 and Saturday, July 5. The two sides last met during a T20I tri-series in July last year in...
The Tree of Life: Honouring the Coconut Tree's Sacred Place in the Cook Islands Culture
You’ve seen it in nearly every photo of our little paradise — the iconic coconut tree. It’s the unmistakable symbol of tropical life, a mark that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special. But in the Cook Islands, the coconut is more than just a...

Young, proud, and ‘ready to roll’: Sāmoa women pursue glory
Sāmoa’s national women’s team is “ready to roll” for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, which kicks off in Fiji on Friday. With eight teams competing from 4 to 19 July, the tournament will showcase the best female football talent from the Pacific....

My Holiday’s biggest holiday sale ends this month, don’t miss out on these major savings
There’s something about the first week of July that makes you want to run away. The novelty of cold-weather layering has worn off, the morning drizzle feels personal, and your group chat is full of people quietly checking flight prices. Thanks to...

Pacific Mini Games 2025 draws regional viewership, offers wide access to sports coverage
By: Eustoria Marie Borja KOROR, Palau (July 1, 2025) — The Pacific Mini Games 2025 opened with vibrant color, traditional dances, and a dazzling fireworks display on Sunday, marking the Games’ return to Palau after 20 years. Despite a rain shower,...