CoveragePost
July 15, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist New Zealand will not send top government representation to the Cook Islands for its 60th Constitution Day celebrations in three weeks’ time. Instead, Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro will represent Aotearoa in Rarotonga. On August 4, Cook Islands will mark 60 years of self-governance in free association with New Zealand. ... <a title="Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/07/15/luxon-and-peters-to-miss-cook-islands-60th-constitution-day-celebrations/" aria-label="Read more about Luxon and Peters to miss Cook Islands’ 60th Constitution Day celebrations">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
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 Islanders retaining citizenship, 46 percent were opposed and 24 percent were unsure. The question asked: The Cook ... <a title="Nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands, says poll" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/25/nearly-half-of-kiwis-oppose-automatic-citizenship-for-cook-islands-says-poll/" aria-label="Read more about Nearly half of Kiwis oppose automatic citizenship for Cook Islands, says poll">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 21, 2025
By Lydia Lewis, RNZ Pacific presenter/producer Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark believes the Cook Islands, a realm of New Zealand, caused a crisis for itself by not consulting Wellington before signing a deal with China. The New Zealand government has paused more than $18 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands after ... <a title="Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/21/former-new-zealand-pm-helen-clark-blames-cook-islands-for-crisis/" aria-label="Read more about Former New Zealand PM Helen Clark blames Cook Islands for crisis">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 20, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has suggested a double standard, saying he was “not privy to or consulted on” agreements New Zealand may enter into with China. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has paused $18.2 million in development assistance to the Cook Islands due to a lack ... <a title="Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/20/mark-brown-cook-islands-not-consulted-on-nz-china-agreements/" aria-label="Read more about Mark Brown: Cook Islands ‘not consulted’ on NZ-China agreements">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 19, 2025
BACKGROUNDER: By Christina Persico, RNZ Pacific bulletin editor/presenter;Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific; and Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist New Zealand has paused $18.2 million in development assistance funding to the Cook Islands after its government signed partnership agreements with China earlier this year. This move is causing consternation in the realm country, with one local ... <a title="Why New Zealand has paused funding to the Cook Islands over China deal" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/19/why-new-zealand-has-paused-funding-to-the-cook-islands-over-china-deal/" aria-label="Read more about Why New Zealand has paused funding to the Cook Islands over China deal">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 2, 2025
By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist, Iliesa Tora, and Christina Persico A New Zealand-born Niuean educator says being recognised in the King’s Birthday honours list reflects the importance of connecting young tagata Niue in Aotearoa to their roots. Mele Ikiua, who hails from the village of Hakupu Atua in Niue, has been named a ... <a title="Pasifika recipients say King’s Birthday honours not just theirs alone" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/06/02/pasifika-recipients-say-kings-birthday-honours-not-just-theirs-alone/" aria-label="Read more about Pasifika recipients say King’s Birthday honours not just theirs alone">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 25, 2025
A public health expert is urging anyone travelling to places in the Pacific with a current dengue fever outbreak to be vigilant and take sensible precautions — but stresses the chances of contracting the disease are low. On Friday, the Cook Islands declared an outbreak of the viral infection, which is spread by mosquitoes, in ... <a title="Pacific dengue cases surge but don’t cancel your holiday yet, says health expert" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/25/pacific-dengue-cases-surge-but-dont-cancel-your-holiday-yet-says-health-expert/" aria-label="Read more about Pacific dengue cases surge but don’t cancel your holiday yet, says health expert">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 19, 2025
By Caleb Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific journalist Environmentalists in the Cook Islands have criticised former Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) head Henry Puna for joining the board of a deep sea mining company. Puna, who finished his term as PIF secretary-general in May last year, played a pivotal part in the creation of multi-use ... <a title="Environmentalists question Henry Puna’s role in deep sea mining firm" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/19/environmentalists-question-henry-punas-role-in-deep-sea-mining-firm/" aria-label="Read more about Environmentalists question Henry Puna’s role in deep sea mining firm">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 6, 2025
By Losirene Lacanivalu, of the Cook Islands News A leading Cook Islands environmental lobby group is hoping that the Cook Islands government will speak out against the recent executive order from US President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking seabed mining. Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) says the arrogance of US president Trump to think that he ... <a title="Cook Islands environment group calls on govt to condemn Trump’s seabed mining order" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/05/06/cook-islands-environment-group-calls-on-govt-to-condemn-trumps-seabed-mining-order/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islands environment group calls on govt to condemn Trump’s seabed mining order">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
April 25, 2025
An ocean conservation non-profit has condemned the United States President’s latest executive order aimed at boosting the deep sea mining industry. President Donald Trump issued the “Unleashing America’s offshore critical minerals and resources” order on Thursday, directing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to allow deep sea mining. The order states: “It is the ... <a title="Trump signs ‘deeply dangerous’ order to fast-track deep sea mining" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/04/25/trump-signs-deeply-dangerous-order-to-fast-track-deep-sea-mining/" aria-label="Read more about Trump signs ‘deeply dangerous’ order to fast-track deep sea mining">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 28, 2025
By Talaia Mika of the Cook Islands News As concerns continue to emerge over China’s “unusual” naval exercises in the Tasman Sea, raising eyebrows from New Zealand and Australia, the Cook Islands government was questioned for an update in Parliament. This follows the newly established bilateral relations between the Cook Islands and China through a ... <a title="Cook Islands government to seek update on China’s naval exercises" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/28/cook-islands-government-to-seek-update-on-chinas-naval-exercises/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islands government to seek update on China’s naval exercises">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
February 27, 2025
RNZ Pacific Prime Minister Mark Brown has survived a motion in the Cook Islands Parliament aimed at ousting his government, the second Pacific Island leader to face a no-confidence vote this week. In a vote yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, Cook Islands time), the man who has been at the centre of controversy in the past few ... <a title="Cook Islands needs to ‘stand on our own two feet,’ says Brown – wins confidence vote" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2025/02/27/cook-islands-needs-to-stand-on-our-own-two-feet-says-brown-wins-confidence-vote/" aria-label="Read more about Cook Islands needs to ‘stand on our own two feet,’ says Brown – wins confidence vote">Read more</a>
