Cook Islands

The Cook Islands has made amendments to its Seabed Minerals Act this week, including replacing the term "mining" with "minerals harvesting ... to reflect the actual activity that takes place".

A wildlife sanctuary in the Cook Islands is concerned about the native white tern population after high winds due to recent weather events knocked chicks off their perches. Audio

He takes over from former deputy prime minister Robert Tapaitau, who lost his seat due to a corruption conviction late last month.

Several severe weather warnings for parts of the Cook Islands have now been cancelled according to the Cook Islands Meteorological Service.

A category one cyclone is expected to make landfall overnight in Rarotonga and heavy rain could cause flash flooding.

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the Cook Islands should have the freedom to investigate deep sea mining before being criticised.

Keeping the Pacific nuclear-free, in line with the Rarotonga treaty, was a recurring theme from the leaders of Tonga, Cook Islands and Samoa to New Zealand last week. Audio

A Cook Islands LGBTQI+ activist has been awarded the Franco-German Prize for Human Rights and the Rule of Law. Audio

Tropical Cyclone Osai is the second cyclone in a week passing the Cook Islands, while there is an orange alert for parts of French Polynesia due to cyclone Nat.