AGP Executive Report

Stranded in Limbo: Sri Lankan national Ruchira Ranasingha has been stuck in the Cook Islands for three years, unable to secure transit visas through New Zealand or Australia to return home. Her family says her mental health is suffering; she hopes to attend her son’s wedding. Cook Islands–China Ties: China’s ambassador-designate Zhao Xing presented his credentials to the Cook Islands High Commissioner in New Zealand on 29 October, with both sides backing closer cooperation. Climate Resilience: A new US$1.2 billion Pacific climate programme is set to fund upgrades at least four Southern Group airports. Hospitality Staffing: The Cook Islands Restaurant and Hospitality Association is awaiting a response to its proposal for a working-holiday visa to ease staff shortages. World Cup: The Aitu’s campaign ended with a 66-6 loss to Australia. Coach Karmichael Hunt wants eligibility rules expanded to include players with Cook Islands great-grandparents.

World Cup: The Cook Islands’ campaign ended with a 66-6 loss to Australia, though coach Karmichael Hunt praised the Aitu’s effort and called for eligibility rules to include players with Cook Islands great-grandparents. Tonga edged Samoa 20-18 in a Pacific thriller; Samoa will meet Australia and Tonga faces New Zealand in the semi-finals. Climate and Transport: At least four Southern Group airports are set for upgrades through a newly approved US$1.2 billion regional climate programme, shaped by a working group co-chaired by the Cook Islands. Tourism and Jobs: Visitor arrivals and spending fell in September, while hospitality businesses are pressing for a fast-track working holiday visa to ease staff shortages. Immigration: A Sri Lankan woman says she has been stranded in the Cook Islands for three years, unable to secure a transit visa to fly home. Health: The Cook Islands has reached the WHO target of screening 70 per cent of women for cervical cancer, but health officials say continued effort is needed to sustain coverage.

Rugby League: The Cook Islands fell 66-6 to Australia at the World Cup, but led 6-4 early and kept fighting. Coach Karmichael Hunt says eligibility rules should include great-grandparents to widen the player pool. Stranded in the Islands: Sri Lankan Ruchira Ranasingha says she has been unable to leave the Cook Islands for three years after New Zealand and Australia refused transit visas. She hopes to get home for her son’s wedding. Climate Funding: A newly approved US$1.2 billion Pacific programme will fund upgrades to at least four Southern Group airports. Tourism Workforce: Hospitality businesses are pressing for a fast-track working holiday visa to ease staff shortages, but say they are still waiting for a response. Public Health: The Cook Islands has reached the WHO target of screening 70 per cent of women for cervical cancer, while health officials urge continued efforts to improve access.

Rugby League: Cook Islands’ World Cup ended with a 66-6 loss to Australia, after the Aitu briefly led 6-4 and showed fight before the break. Coach Karmichael Hunt says the team needs more experienced players and wants eligibility rules expanded to include great-grandparents. Climate Resilience: A new US$1.2 billion Pacific climate programme is set to fund upgrades at at least four airports in the Cook Islands’ Southern Group. Hospitality Jobs: The industry is seeking a fast-track working-holiday visa for overseas staff, saying shortages are affecting service as visitor numbers grow. Health: The Cook Islands has reached the WHO target of screening 70 per cent of women for cervical cancer, but officials say access and early detection remain priorities. Community: Families are preparing graves with flowers and candles for Turama, the annual day of remembrance observed on November 1. Local Sport: Arorangi Bears returned from a historic Dunedin tour unbeaten, winning both matches and renewing links with the club’s first New Zealand tour in the 1990s.

Rugby League World Cup: Australia led the Cook Islands 60-6 in Townsville, with the Kangaroos’ power proving difficult to contain. Cook Islands captain KL Iro says representing the Aitu helped launch his NRL career; Valentine Holmes is also playing for his mother’s Cook Islands heritage. Tuna Management: Pacific fisheries members will push for a new bigeye tuna management measure at the upcoming regional commission meeting. The proposal would cover both purse-seine and longline fishing, with potential implications for island nations’ fishing income. Children’s Health: A mandatory Healthy School Policy will take effect in 2027, setting nutrition standards and banning unhealthy canteen foods. Separately, the Cook Islands has reached its target of vaccinating 90% of children against most childhood diseases. Tourism and Community: Visitor arrivals and spending fell in September, while visitor safety concerns have risen after several incidents on Rarotonga. Online Safety: A free cybersecurity course has launched to help families and businesses spot scams and protect personal information.

Rugby League World Cup: The Cook Islands face Australia in Townsville on Saturday, with captain KL Iro saying representing the Aitu helped launch his NRL career. Ports: The Cook Islands Ports Authority is partnering with New Zealand’s PortConnect to digitise cargo records and improve freight tracking. Travel and Tourism: Visitor arrivals and spending fell in September 2026 compared with a year earlier. Women’s Health: New equipment at Rarotonga Hospital is expected to strengthen cervical cancer screening and reduce wait times. U15 Football: The Cook Islands recorded their first win at the inaugural FIFA U15 World Cup, beating St Lucia 2-1. Stranded Traveller: A Wellington charity has offered to escort a Sri Lankan woman stranded in Rarotonga home after repeated refusals of transit visas.

Rugby League: Cook Islands face Australia in Townsville on Saturday, with captain KL Iro saying representing the Aitu helped transform his NRL career. Australia have already secured a semi-final place. Ports & Trade: The Cook Islands Ports Authority is teaming up with New Zealand’s PortConnect to digitise cargo records and improve freight tracking. Health: New equipment at Rarotonga Hospital is expected to strengthen cervical cancer screening and reduce waiting times. Football: The Cook Islands under-15 team claimed its first win at the FIFA U15 World Cup, beating St Lucia 2-1. Regional Security: Cook Islands officials urged Pacific-wide cooperation against transnational crime, including drug trafficking and illegal fishing. Humanitarian Concern: A Wellington charity has offered to escort a Sri Lankan woman stranded in Rarotonga since 2024 home, after repeated transit visa refusals.

Stranded in Rarotonga: A Wellington charity has offered to escort a Sri Lankan woman home after she spent more than two years stuck in the Cook Islands, unable to secure transit visas through New Zealand or Australia. The trust’s founder says he has booked a flight to Rarotonga and is seeking contact with her. Cyclone Readiness: The South Pacific cyclone season starts on 1 November, with elevated activity forecast in parts of the region. RNZ’s Cyclone Watch Service will provide hourly updates during alerts, while a new regional programme will help bring mobile emergency alerts to the Cook Islands and eight other nations. Va’a Championships: Rarotonga will host the 2028 World Va’a Distance Championships, expected to attract at least 1,500 paddlers from more than 50 countries and boost local tourism. Aitu on the World Stage: Cook Islands’ Youth Olympic team has arrived in Dakar to compete in beach handball, aquatics and triathlon. At the Rugby League World Cup, Aitu winger Esom Ioka’s hat-trick against New Zealand has earned him a Broncos pre-season trial, though a calf injury rules him out against Australia.

Rugby League World Cup: Cook Islands face Australia on Saturday in their final group match. Aitu winger Esom Ioka, who scored a hat-trick against New Zealand before injuring his calf, will miss the game but has earned a Broncos pre-season train-and-trial opportunity. Climate and Safety: A US$1.2 million regional grant will help introduce mobile emergency alerts in the Cook Islands and eight other Pacific nations. Forecasters warn a strong El Niño could bring worsening drought risks into 2027. Va’a Championships: Rarotonga will host the 2028 World Va’a Distance Championships, expected to draw more than 1,500 paddlers from over 50 countries and boost local businesses. Community: Cook Islands’ oldest resident, Mary Tapairu Araitia Whitta, has died aged 102, just days short of her 103rd birthday. Youth Sport: Team Cook Islands has arrived in Senegal for the Youth Olympic Games, competing in beach handball, aquatics and triathlon.

Va’a Hosting: Rarotonga will host the 2028 World Va’a Distance Championships, with at least 1,500 competitors expected and visitor numbers forecast to top 2,000. Youth Olympics: Team Cook Islands athletes have arrived in Dakar ahead of the October 31 opening, competing in beach handball, aquatics and triathlon. Rugby League: The Kangaroos have named Reece Walsh and a new halves pairing for Saturday’s World Cup clash with the Aitu in Townsville. The Cook Islands are coming off an 82-16 loss to New Zealand, after Esom Ioka’s early hat-trick briefly put them ahead. Community: Mary Tapairu Araitia Whitta, the country’s oldest resident, has died aged 102, just two days before her 103rd birthday. Public Safety: Police are joining a new Pacific policing network to tackle transnational crime, while a spate of visitor incidents over the long weekend has raised safety concerns. Housing and Work: CIIC has flagged housing pressure as a major national challenge, and business groups say work permit delays of four to six weeks are hurting employers. Climate Alerts: The Cook Islands is among nine Pacific nations set to receive cell-broadcast emergency alert systems, backed by US$1.2 million in funding.

Visitor Safety: Police reported bag-snatching, crashes and other incidents involving tourists over the long weekend, adding pressure to local services. Work Permits: Businesses say processing now takes four to six weeks, creating delays for employers in the Cook Islands. Pa Enua Development: Prime Minister Mark Brown has urged island administrators to speed up delivery, saying outer islands must be central to economic development. Climate Readiness: A strong El Niño is forecast to bring drier-than-usual conditions to parts of the Pacific; the Cook Islands are also among nine nations set to receive mobile emergency alerts. Seabed Mining: Deep Sea Minerals is seeking exploration rights in the Cook Islands’ waters as it pursues a US listing, but says the proposed fundraising would not pay for offshore work. World Cup: The Cook Islands, eliminated after an 82-16 loss to New Zealand, face Australia in their final pool match. Earlier, Aitu’s Esom Ioka scored a rapid hat-trick in a spirited start against the Kiwis.

Rugby League: The Cook Islands were eliminated from the World Cup semifinals after an 82-16 loss to New Zealand. They face Australia in their final pool game on Saturday. Parliament and Cost of Living: Parliament is unlikely to sit again until 2027, while the opposition says health, living costs and accountability are priorities. Island Stewardship: Aitutaki has launched a lagoon management plan calling for renewed community stewardship. A climate-resilient upgrade is also underway at Mauke Hospital. Deep-Sea Minerals: Deep Sea Minerals is pursuing exploration rights in the Cook Islands and plans a US listing. The company says proceeds would fund technical and environmental preparations and listing costs, not offshore work. Health and Safety: The Cook Islands ranks third globally for obesity, and TMO is starting its own data collection. Two tourists were also targeted in motorbike bag-snatching incidents.

Rugby League World Cup: The Cook Islands are out of semi-final contention after New Zealand ran in an 82–16 win. The Aitu face Australia on Saturday; the Kangaroos have recalled Reece Walsh at fullback. Governance: Parliament is unlikely to sit again until 2027, while the opposition is focusing on health, living costs and accountability. Island Resilience: A climate-resilient upgrade is underway at Mauke Hospital, and Aitutaki has launched a lagoon management plan calling for renewed stewardship. Environment: Palmerston’s rat eradication has helped native plants and wildlife recover and improved fruit and vegetable production. Basketball: Samoa beat the Cook Islands 101–94 in the Polynesian Cup bronze-medal game, leaving the Cooks fourth.

Rugby League World Cup: The Cook Islands are out of semi-final contention after New Zealand’s 82–16 win. The Aitu face Australia in their final pool match on Saturday. Basketball: Samoa beat the Cook Islands 101–94 in the bronze-medal playoff, leaving the Cooks outside the top two places that qualify for the 2027 Pacific Games. Governance: Parliament is unlikely to sit until 2027, while the opposition is focusing on health, living costs and accountability. Local priorities: Aitutaki has launched a lagoon management plan calling for renewed stewardship, and a climate-resilient upgrade is underway at Mauke Hospital. Cook Islands ranks third globally for obesity, according to a recent report.

Rugby League: The Cook Islands Aitu fell 82–16 to New Zealand after Esom Ioka’s first-half hat-trick briefly put them ahead. They now face Australia in Townsville on Saturday, October 31. Aitutaki Environment: A new lagoon management plan calls for renewed community stewardship of the island’s waters. Politics: Parliament is unlikely to sit again until 2027, as the opposition focuses on health, living costs and accountability. Infrastructure: Cyclone Wati caused major damage to Arutanga wharf, while a climate-resilient upgrade is underway at Mauke Hospital.

Rugby League: New Zealand overwhelmed the Cook Islands 82–16 in Christchurch, despite Aitu winger Esom Ioka’s stunning hat-trick that briefly put his side ahead. Jamayne Isaako scored a hat-trick for the Kiwis, who piled on 70 unanswered points after falling behind. The Cook Islands now face Australia in their final group match. U15 Football: Benin beat the Cook Islands 10–0 at the U15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, handing the young side a second defeat. Aitutaki Lagoon: A new five-year management plan calls for stronger ra’ui protection, fisheries enforcement and coral restoration. Mayor Nicholas Henry urged the community to safeguard the lagoon for future generations. Visitor Safety: Police are investigating two bag-snatching incidents involving motorcyclists targeting visitors in Vaimaanga and Muri, and urge people to keep belongings secure.