Cook Islands

Since 2016 Pacific Cooperation Broadcasting Limited (PCBL) has provided equipment and training programmes for journalists and broadcasters across the Pacific. This included an annual Media Exchange Programme with teams of broadcasters travelling to New Zealand for a two-week placement at...

The Cook Islands’ prime minister says the economic recovery from covid-19 and closed borders is tracking above forecast. Mark Brown said the borders reopened on January 13, and there was a slow start in the first quarter of the year....

In addition to the continued COVID-19 support in the region, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a new Statement of Partnership between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands in Rarotonga today. The Waka...

Five years of build-up has become a reality after the 22nd Commonwealth Games began in Birmingham in England on Friday morning. More than 5000 athletes representing 72 nations and territories are in the West Midlands to compete in 19 sports...

The Cook Island government has extended the wage subsidy for March as businesses feel the pinch due to an underwhelming number of New Zealand tourists. Despite February being a low tourist season, occupancy in the Cook Islands is at 35...

The Cook Islands Health Ministry Te Marae Ora tested 371 people for Covid-19 yesterday, in the wake of the first positive result in the country on Monday. Of the 371 PCR tests conducted at the Terevete Park testing station, 211...

High sea surges continue to threaten parts of the Cook Islands as a violent weather system hampers the country. Yesterday strong gusts and heavy rain battered Rarotonga, with sea surges flooding low lying areas and inundating roads with debris. Cook Islands Meteorological Service Director Arona Ngari said it will be a significant clean up operation.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister says Cabinet has approved new entry rules for people once the border is reopened mid-January. Mark Brown said the Covid-19 Safe Framework will be enforceable under new regulations available to Te Marae Ora (TMO) Ministry of Health. Under the Safe Framework there will be three different groups of visitors able to enter the country, each group will need to comply with its own particular set of rules.

The Cook Islands Prime Minister is calling on the international finance community to recognise the debt small island states are taking on for climate adaptation and mitigation. Mark Brown said because the world's largest emitters refuse to phase out coal and because COP26 failed to deliver any positive climate finance outcomes, countries like his have to dig deep into their own pockets to prepare themselves for the impact of climate change.

More than 350 Cook Islanders could be home by the end of next week, if Auckland's Covid-19 alert level status is relaxed. New Zealand's largest city has spent the past four weeks in a level 4 lockdown, following an outbreak of the Delta variant, but the government has indicated Tāmaki Makaurau will move to alert level 3 next Tuesday.