Read the latest news from regional and global sources, presenting different voices and perspectives.

Pacific Growth to Accelerate in 2025 on Resource Strength — ADB
Economic growth in the Pacific is expected to pick up next year, buoyed by strong resource output in Papua New Guinea (PNG), according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2025, released on 6 October by the Asian Development Bank...

Fiji Take Third Place With Penalty Shootout Win Over Cook Islands
Press Release – Oceania Football Confederation Fiji and the Cook Islands played out a tense goalless draw in the bronze medal match at the OFC U-19 Womens Championship 2025, with Fiji holding firm to claim third place on penalties. The Young...

Young Kulas edge Cook Islands 3-2 on penalties to win bronze at OFC U-19 Championship
Young Kulas edge Cook Islands 3-2 on penalties to win bronze at OFC U-19 Championship The Young Kulas has beaten the Cook Islands 3-2 on penalties to win bronze in the OFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Tahiti. The match had ended with a nil-all...

When does the Pacific Championships start?
The long and gruelling NRL season has drawn to a close, with Brisbane claiming a drought-breaking premiership with a stunning comeback against Melbourne. Yet fear not rugby league fans as plenty of games are still to look forward to upon the...

Cook Islands dance connects cultures at Te Maeva Nui NZ 2025
The world’s largest Cook Islands festival kicks off in Tāmaki Makaurau this Friday, celebrating culture and heritage for everyone, Kūki or not. Modeled on the original festival in Rarotonga, Te Maeva Nui NZ (TMNNZ) engages communities from across...

Political Divide Deepens Over Seabed Mining in the Cook Islands
The Cook Islands should be allowed to “make their own choices” and “have a right to their own future development” in terms of seabed mining, according to former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Deep-sea mining was a subject at a panel...

Hōkūleʻa to sail from Cook Islands to New Zealand for the first time in 40 years
Crew members on the Polynesian voyaging canoes Hōkūleʻa and Hikianalia are gearing up to continue on their Moananuiākea voyage. But this time, they’re taking a route that hasn’t been sailed in 40 years: from the Cook Islands to New Zealand, or...
Pacific Resort Hotel Group Wins Multiple Prestigious Titles at 2025 Cook Islands People's Choice and Air New Zealand Tourism Awards
Rarotonga, Cook Islands – [30 September 2025] – Pacific Resort Hotel Group (PRHG) is proud announce a series of significant wins at the 2025 Cook Islands People’s Choice and Air New Zealand Cook Islands Tourism Awards, reaffirming its position as...

How to watch Australia vs New Zealand: FREE Rugby Championship 2025 streams, TV schedule, preview
The Rugby Championship 2025 has entered its final week and there is still plenty on the line for New Zealand and Australia. In what has been one of the most competitive tournaments for years, both sides know that a victory in Perth would give them...
Pacific islands bound by climate change, divided by deep-sea mining: Nauru…
“The climate crisis is not up for debate,” Micronesian President Wesley Simina said. “The only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands.” Pacific island leaders agreed. At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly...

Stat of the week: the Cook Islands’ trade balance
In December 2024, the Cook Islands recorded a trade deficit of USD -14,954,000, meaning the value of imports far exceeded exports. The biggest import category was prepared foodstuffs, beverages, spirits and tobacco, totalling USD...

Pacific Islands focus: health and gender inequities, climate updates, and some hope for marine biodiversity
Introduction by Croakey: In breaking news on Thursday, Papua New Guinea’s cabinet has approved a landmark defence agreement with Australia. PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement, known as the PukPuk treaty, “will elevate the two...
Koroisau, Sivo, Kikau absent from Fiji Bati squad
The Fiji Bati rugby league team has confirmed its 25-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Pacific Championships, where they will compete against the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea in PNG from 18 October 18 to 01 November. Simultaneously, the Fiji...

Pacific islands bound by climate change, divided by deep-sea mining: Nauru swimming against the tide
Deep-sea mining equipment. Photo courtesy of Impossible Metals “The climate crisis is not up for debate,” Micronesian President Wesley Simina said. “The only question is whether we will act with the urgency it demands.” Pacific island leaders...

Fiji name 25-man squad for 2025 Pacific Championships
Fiji Bati have confirmed their 25-man squad for the upcoming 2025 Pacific Championships against the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea. Fiji has selected a star-studded squad that includes several current and former NRL players as the team looks to...

The Pacific Tourism Organisation Hosts Two-Week Research Training for PNGTPA to Strengthen Tourism Data Capacity
From 16 to 30 September 2025, the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) hosted a two-week research training program for the Papua New Guinea Tourism Promotion Authority (PNGTPA), aimed at strengthening PNGTPA’s capacity to manage and deliver...

Super League stars past, present and future named in Fiji squad for Pacific Championships
Super League stars past, present and future have been named in Fiji’s extended 25-man squad ahead of this year’s Pacific Championships. Just as they did last year, Fiji will square off against Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands in the Pacific...

The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP) Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) Journey: What are we doing differently?
The Pacific Humanitarian Warehousing Program (PHWP), being implemented across 15 participating countries1, provided a rare opportunity to reimagine how MERL can meaningfully contribute to ensuring sovereign warehouse storage and response...

New Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani Series Tamariki Katu Kanga Launches at Te Maeva Nui NZ
The cast and creative team of Tamariki Katu Kanga bring reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani to life at Te Maeva Nui Aotearoa. Photo: Supplied A new reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani animated series, Tamariki Katu Kanga, will be unveiled at Te Maeva Nui this weekend, the...

E/V Nautilus arrives in the Cook Islands
On Friday, the exploration vessel (E/V) Nautilus arrives in the Cook Islands for the first time. Owned and operated by the U.S-based non-profit organisation Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), the 68-meter vessel specialises in scientific exploration...