Cook Islands

Exclusive: Cook Islands has dropped the controversial passport proposal, Prime Minister Mark Brown confirmed on Wednesday, Cook Islands Time.

"We can confirm that there are a number of issues on which New Zealand and the Cook Islands Government currently do not see eye to eye," the spokesperson for Deputy PM Winston Peters said.

An advocate for ocean conservation and protection claims the Cook Islands government is misleading public into believing the country is undecided on whether to allow deep seabed mining

The proposal for a Cook Islands passport will be on the agenda when Aotearoa's Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Bede Corry visits Rarotonga this week.

Cook Islands Police is short by about 40 staff and low remuneration rates are making it difficult to drum up new recruits.

The Cook Islands will not pursue membership in the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

The rainfall, while beneficial, also led to some physical disturbances, including strong water currents that washed debris from the sea onto the shores, prompting cleanup efforts at various locations.

Significant attempts were made from overseas to hack into the Cook Islands government's central network a few weeks ago, revealed Prime Minister Mark Brown.

The International Court of Justice hearings which began earlier this month is examining what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change.

"Every child who is born is special to us, and our focus is to ensure that they are well looked after from the time that they are born, especially the first 1000 days of their lives."

Fuimaono Dylan Asafo placed the blame on "our international legal system" for "the climate crisis we face today", urging legal reforms to address the climate crisis.

Local environmental groups are urging the government to conduct a comprehensive survey to determine public support for seabed mining before further action is taken.

Tingika Elikana fired back at an Opposition MP's his suggestion to revisit the Religious Organisation Restrictions Act 1975 to further limit religious organisations in the country.