Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Cook Islands diaspora drives mental health initiative for better care
Pacific Media Network
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Two Pacific health advocates are collaborating on a project to translate and adapt mental health screening measures for Cook Islands communities in Aotearoa New Zealand. The initiative aims to overcome language barriers exposed in a previous...
Obesity exceeds underweight for the first time among school-age children and
Modern Ghana
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NEW YORK, 10 September 2025 – Obesity surpassed underweight as the more prevalent form of malnutrition this year, affecting 1 in 10 – or 188 million – school-aged children and adolescents, and placing them at risk of life-threatening disease,...
Solomon Islands removes menstrual product taxes
Islands Business
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September 12, 2025
AS President of French Polynesia Moetai Brotherson attends the 54th Pacific Islands Forum in Solomon Islands this week, he has spoken about the legacies of French nuclear testing in his country, and called for strengthening the South Pacific...
Cook Islands on Hunt for final Rugby League World Cup spot
Cook Island News
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September 4, 2025
Cook Islands coach Karmichael Hunt. ©Kirk Corrie/NRL Photos/25090307 Cook Islands coach Karmichael Hunt is in the midst of assembling a squad to be reckoned with as he prepares for the most important rugby league game in the nation's history....
Cook Islands PM repeats calls for international recognition of climate
Pacific News Service
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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...
Unicef report: Childhood obesity surpasses underweight for first time globally
Dhaka Tribune
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A new UNICEF report shows that obesity has overtaken underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-aged children and adolescents worldwide. The condition now affects 1 in 10 young people—188 million in total—putting them at...
Puāwai Project puts rangatahi in charge of mental health solutions
New Zealand Doctor
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Mental health charity, Hauora Aotearoa, is taking a different approach to challenging the mental health crisis in Aotearoa by putting rangatahi at the forefront of their own solutions through the Puāwai Project. The Project is a multi-step...
NZ pressed Cook Islands for months over China deals, documents reveal
Cook Island News
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September 2, 2025
Cook Islands Foreign Minister Tingika Elikana, left, with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters in March 2024. Peters even asked Elikana “to share the text” of the China agreements eight months earlier in May 2024 when the pair met at a...
Senior mental health nurse Anthony Lockington loses job for misconduct, causing colleague harm
The New Zealand Herald
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September 7, 2025
The colleague reportedly received unsatisfactory responses – with Lockington allegedly stating on one occasion that his behaviour was just who he was. Health NZ brought in an independent employment specialist, advising Lockington of the complaint...
Ruta Mave: Cook Islands caught between China and USA?
Cook Island News
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September 1, 2025
Ruta Tangiiau Mave. Photo: CI NEWS Prime Minister Mark Brown has China and USA all in the sea-bed together for potential mining and fishing rights. Does anyone see a conflict of interest here? Ruta Mave writes. In this case of conflicting...
UNICEF and WHO to headline Cook Islands Health Conference
Cook Island News
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August 29, 2025
Secretary of Health Bob Williams. TMO/24040122 The Cook Islands Annual Health Conference 2025, which is to be held in Rarotonga on October 1-2, will see guest speakers from UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) and the World Health Organization...
Not your average Joe: One Cook Islander's inspiring journey to the Strongman Games
Pacific Media Network
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A proud Pacific woman is ready to represent her Cook Island roots on the world stage, after securing a coveted spot at the official Strongwoman and Strongman Games in the United States later this year. Born and raised in Manurewa, South Auckland,...
Henry Srebrnik: Cook Islands find themselves in political storm
Telegraph-Journal
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August 27, 2025
Breadcrumb Trail Links TJ Comment Columnist Archipelago of 15 islands between New Zealand and Hawaii has been self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1965 Published Aug 27, 2025 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read One Foot...
Plant and soil health training in the Cook Islands strengthens climate-resilient farming
Pacific Community (SPC)
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The Pacific Community’s (SPC) Land Resources Division partnered with the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture recently to build national capacity in plant and soil health through a week of hands-on training in Rarotonga. SPC specialists Dr Rohit...
Scaling up climate finance in the Pacific
Solomon Star
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September 12, 2025
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) aspires to be the Pacific’s Climate Partner of Choice. Here, I wish to outlines how the Fund is committed to partnering with the Pacific to achieve greater impact in the face of the climate crisis. As leaders gather in...
Cook Islands disappointed over stalled global talks to combat plastic pollution
Cook Island News
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August 20, 2025
National Environment Service (NES) director Halatoa Fua in Geneva Switzerland. SPREP/25081914. Cook Islands has expressed deep disappointment that consensus to develop a landmark treaty to end plastic pollution could not be reached. The Cook...
Cook Islands advocates for ocean protection and climate action
Cook Island News
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August 20, 2025
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) secretary Tepaeru Herrmann has reminded Pacific leaders how Pacific regionalism has helped the Cook Islands for over 60 years. MFAI/ 25081913 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI)...
Cook Islands and NZ Māori practitioners connect through traditional healing
Cook Island News
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August 18, 2025
Rongoa Māori practitioners teaching the youth of Korero o te Orau the art of mirimiri (massage). 25081207 Te Tai Tokerau Rongoa Māori Collective was recently hosted by Korero o te Orau for a 10-day cultural exchange initiative, during which the...
Cook Islands pushes for key actions to support Smaller Island States
Cook Island News
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August 14, 2025
Cook Islands head of delegation and Foreign Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann joined fellow members of the Pacific Islands Forum Smaller Island States (SIS) group at the SIS Officials Meeting held at the Forum Secretariat in Suva, Fiji on Friday last...
Mandarin learning a gateway for Pacific islands' youths
China Daily Global
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Contestants take a group photo in the Confucius Classroom at the Emalus campus of the University of the South Pacific in Port Vila, Vanuatu, Aug 17, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua] In the South Pacific island country of Vanuatu, learning Chinese has opened...