CoveragePost
March 6, 2026
By Koroi Hawkins, RNZ Pacific editor The All Blacks have their first coach of Pasifika heritage. Dave Rennie has been given the job, replacing the ousted Scott Robertson. Rennie’s Cook Islands heritage comes via his mother, who hails from Titikaveka on Rarotonga, and Rennie even played a non-test match for the country in 1990. Asked ... <a title="‘I know she’d be really proud’ – NZ’s first Pasifika heritage All Blacks coach" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/03/06/i-know-shed-be-really-proud-nzs-first-pasifika-heritage-all-blacks-coach/" aria-label="Read more about ‘I know she’d be really proud’ – NZ’s first Pasifika heritage All Blacks coach">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 19, 2026
By Craig McCulloch, RNZ News deputy political editor Winston Peters has been accused of “pure racism” in Parliament by Labour leader Chris Hipkins, who has called out National ministers for failing to combat or challenge it. The Greens say Peters is scapegoating migrants, while ACT’s David Seymour — his own Cabinet colleague — says Peters ... <a title="Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/19/labours-chris-hipkins-accuses-winston-peters-of-pure-racism-in-parliament/" aria-label="Read more about Labour’s Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
SPECIAL REPORT: By Jason Brown Fast-paced electronic music pumps in the background as a rapid montage of moving images flash across the screen. In a 20 second video, French sailors hunker down in an inflatable speeding over swells. Another sailor, in bright red shorts, is lowered from a helicopter onto the vessel’s back deck. Captured ... <a title="French shrug off cocaine case costs with new smugglers ‘strategy’" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/french-shrug-off-cocaine-case-costs-with-new-smugglers-strategy/" aria-label="Read more about French shrug off cocaine case costs with new smugglers ‘strategy’">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 5, 2026
By Coco Lance, RNZ Pacific digital journalist As Waitangi Day commemorations continue drawing people from across Aotearoa and around the world to the Bay of Islands, Te Tii Marae has become a gathering point for Indigenous ocean leadership from across the Pacific. Taiātea: Gathering of the Oceans held its public forum yesterday, uniting more than ... <a title="Indigenous and Pacific leaders unite at Waitangi with shared messages on ocean conservation" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2026/02/05/indigenous-and-pacific-leaders-unite-at-waitangi-with-shared-messages-on-ocean-conservation/" aria-label="Read more about Indigenous and Pacific leaders unite at Waitangi with shared messages on ocean conservation">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 13, 2025
Asia Pacific Report Greenpeace has heralded the Cook Islands delay on a decision over whether seabed mining can go ahead until at least 2032 as “evidence of the growing opposition” to the destructive industry in the Pacific. Greenpeace Aotearoa campaigner Juressa Lee said the decision was “a win for the moana and the Pacific Peoples” ... <a title="Growing local opposition to seabed mining decision has forced Cook Islands delay, says Greenpeace" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/13/growing-local-opposition-to-seabed-mining-decision-has-forced-cook-islands-delay-says-greenpeace/" aria-label="Read more about Growing local opposition to seabed mining decision has forced Cook Islands delay, says Greenpeace">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
November 4, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham and Tiana Haxton, RNZ Pacific journalists Not enough is yet known about the seafloor to decide if deep sea mining can start in the Cook Islands, says an ocean scientist with the government authority in charge of seabed minerals. The Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA) returned last week from a 21-day ... <a title="Not enough known about seafloor to begin mining, says Cook Is scientist" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/11/04/not-enough-known-about-seafloor-to-begin-mining-says-cook-is-scientist/" aria-label="Read more about Not enough known about seafloor to begin mining, says Cook Is scientist">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
October 22, 2025
Greenpeace Cook Islanders holding a banner reading “Don’t Mine the Moana” have confronted an exploration vessel as it returned to Rarotonga port today, protesting the emerging threat of seabed mining. Four activists in kayaks paddled alongside the Nautilus, which has spent the last three weeks on a US-funded research expedition surveying mineral nodule fields around ... <a title="Pacific protesters against deep sea mining challenge US exploration ship" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/10/22/pacific-protesters-against-deep-sea-mining-challenge-us-exploration-ship/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific protesters against deep sea mining challenge US exploration ship">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 6, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Rarotonga The Cook Islands has no intention of leaving its special relationship with New Zealand, says Prime Minister Mark Brown. The Cook Islands marked 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand on August 4. “The value of our relationship with New Zealand cannot be overstated,” ... <a title="Mark Brown rejects talk of ‘strategic shift’ in Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/06/mark-brown-rejects-talk-of-strategic-shift-in-cook-islands-new-zealand-relationship/" aria-label="Read more about Mark Brown rejects talk of ‘strategic shift’ in Cook Islands-New Zealand relationship">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 4, 2025
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist New Zealand’s foreign minister says Cook Islanders are free to choose whether their country continues in free association with New Zealand. Winston Peters made the comment at a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the constitution of the Cook Islands in Auckland today. Peters attended the community event ... <a title="‘Right to choose’ key to Cook Islands-NZ relationship, says Peters" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/04/right-to-choose-key-to-cook-islands-nz-relationship-says-peters/" aria-label="Read more about ‘Right to choose’ key to Cook Islands-NZ relationship, says Peters">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
August 4, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist in Rarotonga The Cook Islands Secretary of Culture Emile Kairua says people in his country are getting complacent about the use of Māori. Cook Islands Māori Language Week started on Sunday in New Zealand and will run until Saturday. Kairua said the language is at risk at the source. ... <a title="‘People have stopped using it’: Culture secretary warns of complacency over Cook Islands Māori" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/08/04/people-have-stopped-using-it-culture-secretary-warns-of-complacency-over-cook-islands-maori/" aria-label="Read more about ‘People have stopped using it’: Culture secretary warns of complacency over Cook Islands Māori">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2025
By Mary Afemata, of PMN News and RNZ Pacific Porirua City Council is set to create a memorial for more than 1800 former patients of the local hospital buried in unmarked graves. But Pacific leaders are asking to be “meaningfully involved” in the process, including incorporating prayer, language, and ceremonial practices. More than 50 people ... <a title="Pacific leaders demand respectful involvement in memorial for unmarked graves" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/21/pacific-leaders-demand-respectful-involvement-in-memorial-for-unmarked-graves/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific leaders demand respectful involvement in memorial for unmarked graves">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
July 21, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist The Cook Islands’ outer islands, or Pa Enua, are emptying as people make the pilgrimage to Rarotonga for constitution celebrations. This year is particularly significant, August 4 marks 60 years of the Cook Islands being in free association with New Zealand. Cook Islands Secretary of Culture Emile Kairua said ... <a title="Cook Islanders flock from outer islands for 60th anniversary celebrations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/21/cook-islanders-flock-from-outer-islands-for-60th-anniversary-celebrations/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islanders flock from outer islands for 60th anniversary celebrations">Read more</a>
