Cook Islands

Sir Ewan Smith recalled his decades-long journey from a teenage pilot in 1973 to leading one of the most important pillars of the Cook Islands tourism economy today.

Staff at Air New Zealand in the Cook Islands say changes to working conditions and employment agreements is a breach to the island's employment laws.

Acting secretary of health Roana Mataitini says the test results came back negative from New Zealand.

Over 700 paddlers from around the world are in Rarotonga this week to compete in the biggest week of paddling on the Cook Islands sporting calendar. Audio

The Ministry of Health says the traveller, who is a close contact of a New Zealand measles case, arrived in the country on 22 November.

The country's men's counselling centre, Te Punanga Ora'anga Matutu, has welcomed the news.

The Cook Islands government says it is working to stabilise its strained relationship with New Zealand, but not at the cost of its independence. Audio

The Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce has raised concerns about recent public talks on the draft Cook Islands Cryptocurrency (Ransomware Suppression) Bill 2025.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister says ministers and officials have engaged "consistently" with New Zealand through every formal channel to address tensions with Aotearoa.

The seabed mining company's comments follow the Cook Islands decision to extend the ongoing exploration period for a further five years, until 2032.

However, Mark Brown says New Zealand is "having issues" with the state of its own economy as Kiwis "are running away" to Australia.

The country will extend seabed minerals exploration for a further five years, pushing the decision on whether to mine its polymetallic nodules-rich seafloor to at least 2032.

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council is demanding answers as the diplomatic dispute between the Cook Islands and New Zealand deepens.