The undefeated Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers and thrilled supporters celebrate a dominant 32–12 grand final victory over the Arorangi Bears at the National Stadium on Saturday, capping off their perfect 2025 Cook Islands Rugby League season in front of over 1,500 fans under clear blue skies. MELINA ETCHES/25051841 The Tupapa Maraerenga Panthers sealed their dominance in the 2025 Cook Islands Rugby League season, powering past the Arorangi Bears in a commanding grand final victory on Saturday at the National Stadium. Under perfect blue skies following a week of rain, more than 1500 fans packed the stadium to witness the undefeated Panthers complete their fairytale season with a championship win, delivering a classy performance that ended in a 32–12 win. The game ignited early with Panthers’ star playmaker Mafu Kalas – dubbed the “little general” – putting on a masterclass. Within the opening five minutes, Kalas sliced through the Bears’ defence...

Cook Islands hosts the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Asia-Pacific regional training workshop. NES / 25051601 Cook Islands National Environment Service (NES) hosted the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Asia-Pacific regional training workshop for Operational Focal Points (OFPs) this week at the Edgewater Resort, Rarotonga marking a significant milestone for the country. The event brought together OFPs from across the Asia-Pacific region to enhance their capacity in environmental finance management and project oversight. The workshop, supported by GEF, aimed to improve how focal points access, monitor, and evaluate GEF support. Since joining GEF in June 1994, the Cook Islands has undertaken over 12 GEF-funded projects. Currently, NES serves as the executing agency for three major projects including: GEF-7 Project ENUA, aimed at reducing environmental impacts from agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism through sustainable land and coastal water management. GEF-8 Project RESPONSE, focused on minimizing plastic waste from the food and beverage sector,...

Te Maeva Nui’s international reputation continues to grow as organisers are expecting a record turnout from both local and overseas communities. The post Cook Islands gears up for biggest Te Maeva Nui ever appeared first on Cook Islands News. RPT

Nurses at Rarotonga Hospital celebrated International Nurse’s Week on Monday. TMO / 25051218 Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry of Health is expected to review and update the nursing care guidelines and Nurse Act ensuring an effective health system for nurses in the Cook Islands. Te Marae Ora (TMO), Ministry of Health is expected to review and update the nursing care guidelines and Nurse Act ensuring an effective health system for nurses in the Cook Islands. To continue reading this article and to support our journalism CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE NOWfor as little as $11 per month. – Up to date and breaking news – Includes access to Premium content – Videos and online classifieds Already a subscriber, click here Our people. Our news. First. Comments RPT

Justice of the Peace Tangi Taoro presided over several court matters at the Criminal Court in Avarua on Thursday. Alder Alexander Glassie has denied the charge of careless driving. Defence lawyer Norman George advised that Police Prosecution reviewed the case and would be proceeding with the matter. George requested full disclosures to be provided. The matter has been adjourned to September 23 for a defendant hearing. — A charge of assault on a female against Apenisa Vukialagi has been withdrawn through the police diversion programme, after Vukialagi attended six weeks of counselling. Defence lawyer Henry Herman mentioned that his client had accepted responsibility and expressed a desire to reconcile with his wife. Police prosecutor senior sergeant Fairoa Tararo confirmed the completion of the diversion programme. — Taiava Tekaria was convicted and fined $300, plus $50 in court costs, for driving with excess breath alcohol. He was arrested on May...

Halatoa Fua. Photo: Supplied/20102821 The Cook Islands is the chair for the Pacific Region’s Project Steering Committee (PSC), which has the largest portion of the GEF ISLAND fund. GEF ISLANDS is the largest singular project by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with an allocation of under US$20 million for the 14 Pacific countries including the Cook Islands. 33 countries are a part of this project – 14 from the Pacific Ocean, 12 from the Caribbean Ocean, 4 from the Indian Ocean and three from the Atlantic Ocean.  National Environment Service director Halatoa Fua attended the GEF ISLANDS forum in Geneva on the back of the BRS Convention, which was attended my most of the 33 islands under the GEF ISLANDS project. Halatoa Fua says ‘The GEF ISLANDS gave international perspective to the Pacific delegates on what successful implementation might look like for countries in the Caribbean, Indian and Atlantic...

The upcoming budget is slightly larger than the initial $328 million passed for the current 2024/25 financial year in June 2024, which then increased to over $396 million in the supplementary budget passed in February this year. The Cook Islands government will present a $336 million budget for the 2025/26 financial year next Wednesday, featuring increases in social welfare and allocations for education, police and health. The Cook Islands government will present a $336 million budget for the 2025/26 financial year next Wednesday, featuring increases in social welfare and allocations for education, police and health. To continue reading this article and to support our journalism CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE NOWfor as little as $11 per month. – Up to date and breaking news – Includes access to Premium content – Videos and online classifieds Already a subscriber, click here Our people. Our news. First. Comments RPT

Tupapa Panthers skipper Eric Newbigging is tackled by Ngatangiia Matavera Sea Eagles defenders at Nukupure Park. MELINA ETCHES/25031628 Tupapa Panthers captain Eric Newbigging leads the Cook Islands Rugby League Player of the Year race with 25 points heading into the grand final this weekend. The John Whittaker Trophy to the Player of the Year will be awarded straight after the Rarotonga League 13s grand final match between the Panthers and the Arorangi Bears this Saturday at the National Stadium in Nikao. Newbigging, who played in the NRL competition for the Parramatta Eels in 2014, tops the tally with 25 points, followed by fellow Panthers’ teammate Mafu Kalas with 16 points and Avatiu Nikao Eels’ Nathan Nabou with eight points. According to Chris Browne of Cook Islands Rugby League Association, the John Whittaker Award points tally is similar to the NRL Dally M Award Tally. “Every week CIRLA media crew...

Two ACI Students listening to instructions performed by a Volunteer for Vex Robotics KAT JENSEN/25051318 Autism Cook Islands (ACI) recently launched its Vex Robotics program, which allows children with autism to collaborate and build projects together with volunteers. Kat Jensen, the ACI programs manager, emphasised that Vex Robotics encourages social interaction among the children, helping them develop confidence and improve their social skills. The Vex Robotics sessions are held every Friday from 3 PM to 4 PM at Studio Blue, located on the back road in Nikao. Last week, 12 children and four volunteers participated in the program. In comparison, nine children attended the Vex Robotics program last year. This year, three new families have joined ACI, and Jensen anticipates welcoming two more families during this Friday’s second session. During lessons with Autism Specialist Hannah Perry at various schools on Rarotonga, Jensen met parents who were unfamiliar with ACI...

Cook Islands Men’s cricket team. CICA/ 25051401 The Cook Islands Men’s Cricket team ended their tri-series competition in Japan with some very strong bowling innings in extremely challenging conditions, says Grant Walker. The team have just ended their tri-series against Thailand and hosts Sano, Japan this week. Cricket Association president Grant Walker said, “The Cooks finished the tour 1-4 but with several very strong bowling innings in extremely challenging conditions with a spinning pitch and strong competition (Japan 43rd ranked). “As I said outset, the tour was to see where we are and what we need to do to develop. This was 100 per cent achieved. We know we are competitive and have plans to continue to build this program.” Walker told the team, “We form to play and the professional sides play for form. So our goal is to keep a team in being, find additional opportunities to...