Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.
Domestic shipping warns of rising costs for Pa Enua as freight rates increase
Cook Island News
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June 13, 2025
A Taio Shipping vessel at Avatiu Harbour. Mona Taio of Taio Shipping acknowledged that the increase in freight charges significantly affects their business operations. 25030350 Local shipping company Taio Shipping says the recent freight rate...
Deep-rooted cultural influence behind Cook Islands corruption – former audit director
Islands Business
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April 25, 2025
Swire Shipping announced that three of its vessels serving the South Pacific have made the switch to B24 and B30 2nd generation biofuel blends. The voluntary move supports Swire Shipping’s long-term sustainability ambitions and will provide more...
‘A chronicle of disaster foretold’: French Polynesia leader warns against deep-sea mining, urges ocean conservation
Malay Mail
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June 13, 2025
NICE (France), June 13 — French Polynesia pledged this week to create the world’s largest marine protected area to safeguard its seas — and it hopes to encourage others to lift their game. The archipelago in the far South Pacific Ocean, an...
Pressure mounts on Cook Islands Deputy PM over Rarotonga water tariff petition
Pacific Media Network
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A Rarotonga advocate says that to end the controversial water tariffs introduced last year, their petition only needs the signature of Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas. Rarotonga’s water authority, To Tatou Vai (TTV), implemented the tariffs...
Wealth beneath the waves: US takes a step toward promoting deep-sea mining amid concerns in the Pacific
The Pacific Island Times
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June 11, 2025
Around 16,404 feet beneath the northern Pacific Ocean, the whole seabed—stretching around 4,500 miles from east to west—is littered with potato-sized chunks of what look like charcoal lumps called polymetallic nodules. Rich in metals such as...
Cook Islands and Czech Republic commit to strengthening collaboration
Cook Island News
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March 27, 2025
Left - right: His Excellency Sir Tom John Marsters, KBE, King’s Representative of the Cook Islands, receives the letter of credence from Her Excellency Jana Tyrer, Ambassador of the Czech Republic. MFAI/25032605 Ambassador Jana Tyrer of the Czech...
Letter: Seabed mining talkfest- ‘A waste of public money’
Cook Island News
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June 9, 2025
Dear Editor, The 11 people that travelled to Australia to promote a one-sided and biased consultation for the development of seabed mining may have cost Cook Islands taxpayers over $80,000. Probably the only person in the group, who knows and has...
'Act responsibly for humankind' — Palau president on deep sea mining
Samoa News
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June 10, 2025
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Palau's president says the US to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining frontrunner The Metals Company (TMC) has since confirmed it will not apply for a mining license through the International...
China carefully assembling a deep-sea mining strategy
Inquirer
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June 10, 2025
UNITED NATIONS, United States — In a world hungry for crucial resources, China may not be poised to start deep-sea mining, but it is planting seeds for such operations in a meticulously planned economic and geopolitical strategy. The world’s...
Is Responsible Deep-Sea Mining Possible? Experts Say Maybe Deep-sea mining could help meet the surging demand for clean energy minerals with fewer social harms. But without a true understanding of the environmental impacts and a lack of global…
Triple Pundit
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This article is part of our series on responsible mining solutions. The push for clean energy is fueled by a growing demand for minerals, but conventional mining has a track record of harmful social and environmental impacts. Experts are exploring...
'Act responsibly for humankind' - Palau president on deep sea mining order
RNZ
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June 8, 2025
Surangel Whipps Jr, left, wants US President-elect Donald Trump to see firsthand the impacts of climate change. Photo: RNZ Pacific / PICRC Palau's president says the US order to fast-track deep sea mining is not a good idea. Deep sea mining...
Cook Islands continues to advocate for a balanced approach
Cook Island News
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March 21, 2025
The Cook Islands delegation at the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from Ships, 18th session. MFAI/25032021 The Cook Islands advocates for a balanced maritime levy, ensuring Small Island Developing States...
Letter: Keeping an ‘open mind on the deep’
Cook Island News
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July 31, 2025
Dear Editor, Once again, in Saturday’s edition of CINews, the regular “Opinion” column from Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) peddles its usual blend of misinformation and selective half-truths on the topic of seabed minerals. Repeating the same claims...
Seabed mining consultations criticised as ‘one-sided sales pitch’
Cook Island News
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June 6, 2025
Louisa Castledine, a spokesperson for ocean advocacy collective, Ocean Ancestors. 25021317 A Cook Islands environmental advocate has criticised the seabed mining consultation process being undertaken by the Cook Islands Government in Australia,...
2025 Air NZ Cook Islands Tourism Awards sponsorship launched
Cook Island News
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April 10, 2025
The Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Industry Awards was last hosted in 2020, before the Cook Islands came to a halt when borders shut. Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council president, Tere Carr has announced and welcomed the sponsors for the...
Pa Enua brings island culture and delicacies to Trade Days
Cook Island News
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July 31, 2025
The Mangaia stall on day two of the BCI Trade Days. Tangimama Harry, on the far right, with crafted items to sell. TEITIMOANA TAIRI/25073071 Vendors from the Pa Enua showcased their unique traditional foods and crafts on day two of the BCI Trade...
Four community halls progressing as cyclone shelters
Cook Island News
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July 31, 2025
Tutakimoa Meeting House is one of the four community halls approved for funding and actively progressing under the Rarotonga Safety Shelter Programme. SUPPLIED/ 25072821 Four community halls have now been approved for funding and are actively...
A message from island leaders: protect the Pacific Ocean from deep-sea mining
Nature
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The Pacific Ocean’s seabed is rich in critical metals such as cobalt and nickel. Yet deep-sea mining of these materials, which are used in many technologies, threatens the region. If mining goes ahead, irreversible environmental harm, risks to...
China’s Pacific Play: A Critical Look At Its Growing Influence In The Cook Islands
Mizzima
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Sun Lee Over the past two decades, China has steadily increased its presence in the Pacific region, with the Cook Islands emerging as a prominent case study. While Beijing touts its engagement as a win–win developmental partnership, closer...
Offshore Trusts Offer Liability Protection But May Create More Tax
Forbes
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GENEVA - MARCH 25: The plaque of the Swiss Bankers Association is displayed on its building on March 25, 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images) Getty Images A lawsuit from a disgruntled employee of a successful...