Police said the first-quarter figures also show that the most significant increases in criminal behaviour relate to driving offences (up nearly 199 per cent) and violence committed against people (up 126 per cent). POLICE EMDIA/26041026 Arrests and prosecutions have skyrocketed in the first quarter of this year due to an increased police presence, with traffic offences, assaults and domestic violence being the ‘stand out’ offences. Arrests and prosecutions have skyrocketed in the first quarter of this year due to an increased police presence, with traffic offences, assaults and domestic violence being the ‘stand out’ offences. 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

Dear Editor, I note the response from Re Temanu Soatini defending the Cook Islands United Party manifesto and taking issue with my earlier letter, “Dissecting United Party’s Manifesto.” I welcome the exchange. Election campaigns should not be judged by applause lines or emotional appeal alone, but by whether the policies being promoted can withstand practical scrutiny. Ms Soatini suggests that because I challenged only three of the manifesto’s headline proposals, I must therefore endorse the remaining eleven. That is a convenient political conclusion, but not a serious one. I focused on those three proposals precisely because they were among the most publicly promoted and the easiest to test for credibility, sustainability, and practical implementation. If the flagship policies of a manifesto do not stand up to scrutiny, then it is entirely reasonable to question the seriousness of the wider platform. On free water, the attempt to frame the issue as...

Takuvaine Warriors team. KALI RATU/26040904 Cook Islands Rugby League 13s domestic competition returns this week after the long Easter break at Raemaru Park. The week 8 draw will see Tupapa Panthers take on Takuvaine Warriors while hosts Arorangi Bears will take on Avatiu Eels in the men’s competition. Takuvaine Warriors focus this week is on starting strong and maintaining that same energy for the full 80 minutes. TKV Warriors player Kali Ratu said, “The boys are hungry, and you can expect an even better effort against the Panthers.” Fans can expect TKV to be determined in this week’s clash with the Panthers. The team’s improved energy and commitment suggest they are eager to build on the positives from the last match and put on another strong performance. While every match presents new challenges, TKV’s recent effort indicates they are focused on continued improvement and aiming for a competitive showing against...

Te Cook Islands Police Service vessel; Te Kukupa II safely returned on Tuesday morning. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/26040820 Following a significant international gathering in Sydney and subsequent travel to New Zealand last month, Te Kukupa II has returned home. RPT

A 16-year-old student appeared at the High Court last Thursday on charges related to multiple burglaries in the Nikao area. The post Student accused of multiple burglaries appeared first on Cook Islands News. RPT

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana in Parliament yesterday. TALAIA MIKA/ 26040822. The crew of the cocaine-smuggling vessel MV Raider may have illegally entered Rarotonga using a “small boat”, the Cook Islands Foreign and Immigration Minister told Parliament yesterday. The crew of the cocaine-smuggling vessel MV Raider may have illegally entered Rarotonga using a “small boat”, the Cook Islands Foreign and Immigration Minister told Parliament yesterday. 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

Troy Henderson of Extreme Fishing Charters Rarotonga won the heaviest fish category at the BSP Easter Fishing Competition with a 51.5kg yellowfin tuna. Pictured from left are crew members Mark Simmonds, Nigel Campbell, Corrina Tucker and skipper Troy Henderson. CIGFC/26040703 A spectacular double strike featured in the Cook Islands Game Fishing Club (CIGFC) BSP (Bank of South Pacific) Easter competition over the long weekend, with anglers reeling in impressive catches of yellowfin tuna, mahimahi and blue marlin. During Saturday’s tournament, Troy Henderson of Extreme Fishing Charters Rarotonga lived up to his team’s name, landing an “extreme” haul aboard his vessel, Extreme. Heading out of Avatiu Harbour at 7.30am, Henderson struck gold within an hour, hooking two yellowfin tuna in a double strike. After a solid battle, both fish were successfully brought on board, with the crew working swiftly to gaff and secure the catch before returning to harbour by 10am....

Dear Editor, Re-front page article April 2, 2026. Very disturbing to read PM Mark Brown’s confirmation that he didn’t request for the $30 million funding put on hold by the NZ government as a result of his ‘aka tangata, akateitei’ – disrespect of our relationship with New Zealand. He claimed it was New Zealand’s own initiative. Unbelievable.  As a result of Brown’s unimportant ego, was government funding to our seven semi-private schools for 2024-25 cut by 15.4 per cent? A reduction of half a million dollars to educate our precious children, the future of the Cook Islands! An independent school committee had to be established to lobby the government to recover some of this funding. We have to fight the Government to do their job and educate our children? The Government’s number one priority is the education of our children, health and so on … Unlike Mark Brown, we the people...