Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Cook Islands blocks 37 individuals with gang links at border
Cook Island News
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June 26, 2025
Thirty-seven (37) individuals have been stopped from entering the Cook Islands between June 2024 and April of this year due to their affiliations with gangs overseas. COOK ISLANDS TOURISM/25062530 Thirty-seven (37) individuals with overseas gang...
Cook Islands heads to Fiji with renewed hope for OFC Women’s Nations Cup
Cook Island News
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June 26, 2025
Cook Islands national women’s football team departed yesterday for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup. CIFA MEDIA/25062522 The Cook Islands national women’s football team departed yesterday for the 2025 OFC Women’s Nations Cup, set to kick off in...
Will New Zealand’s ‘patronising’ aid freeze push Cook Islands closer to China?
South China Morning Post
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June 29, 2025
What began as a quiet series of infrastructure deals between the Cook Islands and China has erupted into a diplomatic stand-off, with New Zealand halting millions in aid and Pacific leaders accusing Wellington of “patronising” behaviour. New...
Cook Islands Parliament passes 2025/26 Budget
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown in Parliament on June 23, 2025. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25062320 The Cook Islands Parliament on Tuesday passed the 2025/26 Budget after just over a week of debate, with Parliament sitting only half-days during this period....
Cook Islands qualifies for 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Beach Handball
Cook Island News
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June 24, 2025
Cook Islands men’s beach handball team has officially qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, following a determined showing at the 3rd IHF Men’s Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Hammamet, Tunisia. SUPPLIED/25062303 History was made...
New Zealand citizenship ‘by right, not privilege’, says Cook Islands PM Brown
Island Times
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June 27, 2025
RAROTONGA (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens “not by privilege, but by right”, said Prime Minister Mark Brown in response to a recent poll conducted in New Zealand on citizenship rights. The nationwide poll, commissioned...
Cook Islands PM confirms 25 businesses in arrears on Covid-19 loans
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 23, 2025
Twenty-five businesses are behind repayments of a business loan that was issued by the Cook Islands government to support them during the 2020 Covid pandemic. Prime Minister Mark Brown confirmed this in response to questions raised by Matavera MP...
Stat of the week: In 2024, the Cook Islands recorded a negative trade balance of -161,697 USD
Pacific Community (SPC)
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In 2024, the Cook Islands recorded a negative trade balance of -161,697 USD. This means the value of imports exceeded exports, highlighting ongoing economic pressures and reliance on external goods. As small island economies like the Cook Islands...
Cook Islands Prime Minister slams NZ aid freeze as ‘patronising’
Talanoa 'O Tonga
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June 22, 2025
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says New Zealand’s decision to pause development aid is patronising and will harm the country’s most vulnerable citizens. In a ministerial statement to Parliament on Thursday (Cook Islands time), Brown...
Deep sea mining decision already made, Cook Islands opposition leader says
RNZ
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June 26, 2025
Cook Islands nodule field - photo taken within Cook Islands EEZ. Photo: Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority The Cook Islands' opposition leader believes the government has already decided it wants to pursue deep sea mining despite the science...
Heath and Smith named Cook Islands flag bearers
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Team Cook Islands co-flag bearer Alanna Smith, right, and Twinna Tangirere are teaming up in the national beach volleyball team for the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. 25062416 Cook Islands beach volleyball players Brendon Heath and Alanna Smith...
400 Cook Islanders permitted to bring in medicinal cannabis
Cook Island News
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June 25, 2025
Health Minister Rose Toki-Brown in Parliament yesterday. 25062410 About 400 Cook Islanders are now permitted to bring medicinal cannabis into the country, according to the Minister of Health, Rose Toki-Brown. About 400 Cook Islanders are now...
Government revives ammunition supply
Cook Island News
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June 28, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Brown in Parliament on June 23, 2025. LOSIRENE LACANIVALU / 25062320 Prime Minister Mark Brown has announced several new initiatives aimed at enhancing firearm regulation and safety across the Pa Enua. This includes the...
Cook Islands at 60: Do we really need New Zealand aid?
Cook Island News
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June 21, 2025
Happier times … Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters in February last year. This week, New Zealand through Peters paused $18.2 million of core sector support funding for the Cook Islands, after its...
NZ Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll reveals nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands
RNZ
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June 24, 2025
Under the Cook Islands constitution, New Zealand cannot pass laws for the Cook Islands. Photo: Supplied / PMN A new poll by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union-Curia shows that almost half of respondents oppose the Cook Islands having automatic New...
Letter: Humble pie
Cook Island News
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July 8, 2025
The next few weeks are crucial and critical and it’s time for calm heads and enough of the political chest-beating. The Cook Islands Prime Minister needs to humble himself, and New Zealand must take a more conciliatory tone. The current standoff,...
Nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands, says poll
Asia Pacific Report
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June 25, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist A new poll by the New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union shows that almost half of respondents oppose the Cook Islands having automatic New Zealand citizenship. Thirty percent of the 1000-person sample supported...
Cook Islands seeks to destabilise NZ on eve of China visit
The Daily Blog
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June 20, 2025
NZ pauses nearly $20m in funding to Cook Islands after China agreements New Zealand has paused nearly $20 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands over its recent dealings with China. New Zealand raised concerns in February, after...
NZ Taxpayers' Union poll reveals nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands
RNZ
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June 24, 2025
Under the Cook Islands constitution, New Zealand cannot pass laws for the Cook Islands. Photo: Supplied / PMN A new poll by the New Zealand Taxpayers' Union shows that almost half of respondents oppose the Cook Islands having automatic New Zealand...
Cook Islands PM decries New Zealand’s ‘patronising’ aid pause
The Straits Times
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June 20, 2025
Cook Islands PM Mark Brown defended his nation’s ties with China, saying they did not “compromise” its independence.PHOTO: AFP WELLINGTON – Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown on June 20 condemned “patronising” neighbour New Zealand, which...