Cook Islands

The Cook Islands Prime Minister says ministers and officials have engaged "consistently" with New Zealand through every formal channel to address tensions with Aotearoa.

The seabed mining company's comments follow the Cook Islands decision to extend the ongoing exploration period for a further five years, until 2032.

However, Mark Brown says New Zealand is "having issues" with the state of its own economy as Kiwis "are running away" to Australia.

The country will extend seabed minerals exploration for a further five years, pushing the decision on whether to mine its polymetallic nodules-rich seafloor to at least 2032.

The Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council is demanding answers as the diplomatic dispute between the Cook Islands and New Zealand deepens.

A bushfire that broke out around midday Sunday (Monday NZT) in the tourism hotspot caused anxiety among residents and tourists as smoke drifted across homes and nearby resorts.

The Cook Islands government says it remains committed to free association with New Zealand despite recent disagreements and trust issues between the two governments. Audio

The fuel tanker Media, which is currently undergoing technical inspection and repair work in Fiji, was originally scheduled to reach Rarotonga last week.

The research/survey vessel Da Yang Hao is the second marine scientific research collaboration for Cook Islands Seabed Minerals Authority.

One of the two fuel suppliers in the Cook Islands is running out of diesel.

The Miss Cook Islands Association successfully revived the national pageant this year, since its previous staging in 2019.