Cook Islands

The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority says more information is needed before a decision is made on whether mining can proceed. Audio

A Hawaiian navigator-in-training taking part in a four-year voyage of the Pacific Ocean says it is a heavy responsibility knowing her job is to make sure navigation stays both relevant and sacred.

Local authorities are collaborating to create new guidelines and licensing for responsible whale watching and swimming to protect marine life and ensure visitor safety.

The question facing its people is no longer just about mining - but about identity, sovereignty, stewardship, and the ocean that binds them all.

A director at the Seabed Minerals Authority says that, as a small island nation, the Cook Islands is always looking to partner with other jurisdictions. Audio

The 19-year-old Australian visitor, who tried to smuggle vapes, a banned product, into the country was apprehended by police and charged with making a false declaration.

The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the Cook Islands and China has 'nothing to do with military or security agenda', the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand says.

The US-Cook Islands relationship took a formal step forward when diplomatic ties between the two countries was officially established in late 2023.

Competitors from different islands faced off in rock lifting, coconut husking, fruit racing and wrestling, with most coming from Pukapuka, an atoll in the Northern Group.

Rarotonga is as popular as it has ever been. Audio