Latest news with #Rarotonga
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
2025 Pacific Mini Games: Cook Islands flag bearers journey
When team Cook Islands walks out during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau, it will be led by two locals who put sport and community at the forefront. The flag bearers leading this year's team are Brendon Heath and Alanna Smith. "We're incredibly proud to have two of our most experienced and respected athletes named as flag bearers," said Robert Graham, President of the Cook Islands Volleyball Federation. "Both Brendon and Alanna have contributed so much over the years and continue to lead by example. This is a proud moment for our volleyball family." For Mr Heath, this mini games marks an emotional milestone. Less than a fortnight ago he lost his mother, Suzanne Tungane Kainuku Heath, who peacefully passed away in Nelson after battling a long illness. "Mum has been my biggest motivation to represent this country," he said. "She was the reason I moved to Rarotonga." Born and raised in New Zealand, Mr Heath hadn't grown up closely connected to his Cook Islands roots. "I came to reconnect. I planned to stay for a year and have been there 17 years now." The 2025 Pacific Mini Games will be an especially emotional one for Brendon. ( Source: Supplied ) As captain of the men's beach volleyball team, Mr Heath steps into the games with a wealth of experience. He said this tournament is a tribute to his mother and a symbol of the legacy he hopes to leave for his three children, who continue to inspire him. "It's a huge honour and a proud moment for myself and my family," he says. "I feel like I've had a life of sports my kids have never seen. I hope I make them proud." For Alanna Smith, it's about caring for something bigger. Crowned Miss Cook Islands in 2017, she also represented the country at Miss World. She's a familiar figure on the national stage, not just as a beauty queen, but as an accomplished athlete who has represented the Cook Islands in netball. Now she's returning to beach volleyball — her second international appearance in the sport, having previously played in 2011. Alanna is a familiar figure on the national stage, not just as a beauty queen, but as an accomplished athlete who has represented the Cook Islands in netball. ( Source: Supplied ) Beyond athletic pursuits, Ms Smith is the director of Te Ipukarea Society, a prominent environmental NGO advocating for projects around climate resilience, and raising awareness on issues like deep-sea mining. For Smith, sport and environmental advocacy are interconnected. "Sport and the environment might seem worlds apart, but both are about caring for something bigger, about stewardship. "Whether I'm on the court or working on conservation, I see it all as part of the same mission." Mark Short, the Chef de Mission, emphasised that their selection was unanimous and heartfelt. "Brendon and Alanna represent the very best of the Cook Islands. They're inspiring leaders with compelling personal stories who demonstrate unwavering dedication to their sport and community. "Their selection as flag-bearers recognises not just their achievements, but the mana they carry as individuals."
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Affordable holidays harder to come by for families, with some booking a year in advance
Families looking to go overseas during school holidays are having to plan well in advance to get an affordable price. (File photo) Photo: 123RF Families are having to book holidays a year in advance to get an affordable escape according to a travel agent. Airlines and accommodation providers have become wise to people sneaking off a day or so before official school holidays, making early start bargains harder to come by. Managing Director of World Travellers Motueka, Silvana Gottini told Checkpoint some school holiday destinations were booking up over a year in advance. "If people aren't really on the ball and they're thinking now, for example, to book for the September school holidays, it's going to be significantly pricier than it would be if they'd booked a long time ago, and that's if they can even get accommodation." "I have a few families that booked in April, May for the July holiday next year so that they can get the accommodation that they want. The exactly the types of rooms that they want. And get the airfares at the best prices." Air New Zealand expected more than 745,000 to take to the skies over the July break; 465,000 domestic and 280,000 international travellers. Gottini said since the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for popular destinations, particularly the Pacific Islands and Rarotonga, had only gone up. "Not only do the prices go up in the school holidays, and that's just purely due to demand, but also there's not gonna be as much selection for you to choose from in accommodation because many of the places that you may be thinking of could be booked up well in advance." She said that she had seen many families looking to start their holidays early, but this tactic was rarely effective. "Accommodation and airlines are onto that as well in a sense. And that, you know, there might be what we call blackout dates for deals a week before and a week after the school holidays as well. They've accounted for that, that a lot of people are going to be doing that." She said the main reason for a higher price was due to a lack of availability. "The price increase is more to do with the fact that. The accommodation and the airlines are full, so therefore you can no longer get the cheapest airfare because on any given flight there could be 20 or more different airfare levels within the economy class," "The cheapest gets booked up first and then so on and so forth as you work your way through the availability of the flight when there's only a few seats left, then those are significantly more expensive because only the expensive airfares are left... you might be getting exactly the same as what the person next to is getting, who may have booked you know, 8 or 10 months in advance and they might be paying a third less than you." Checkpoint looked at some Air New Zealand flights for a week long break in Rarotonga for a family of four. Return flights leaving on the last day of term came in at $6260, almost $1000 less than leaving during the school holidays, when the same journey comes to $7240. Two weeks after the end of the school holidays the same flights come in at just over $3500. Associate Minister for Education, David Seymour, has previously warned parent condoned truancy, like taking days off to bag cheap flights , could result in prosecution. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Ngā Pou o Heretaunga return to Hastings Civic Square after restoration
Pou o Heretaunga have returned to Civic Square after undergoing restoration. Photo: Supplied Ngā Pou o Heretaunga have returned to Civic Square in Hastings. Project manager Te Uira Tōmoana, who is working on behalf of Ngā Marae o Heretaunga Charitable Trust, said the pou are more than carvings. "They are living expressions of whakapapa, mana and whanaungatanga. Their return to the square brings a renewed sense of presence and strength," Tōmoana said. "This kaupapa has been led with aroha and deep care by our carvers, whānau and marae," Tōmoana said. Carved by tohunga whakairo and owned by their respective marae within the district of Hastings, 18 of the pou were unveiled in 2013 . Since then, they have stood as cultural markers of identity, whakapapa and unity in the heart of Hastings city. A 19th pou was gifted by the Queen of Rarotonga, Pā Ariki, in 2017 and represents the strong connection between Ngāti Kahungunu and the Takitumu region of Rarotonga. In February of this year, each pou was taken back to its marae to undergo inspection and any necessary maintenance. This is the first full collective check and restoration since their installation. One pou remains offsite for additional work. Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst. Photo: SUPPLIED Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said the council was proud to support the rededication and acknowledged the ongoing guardianship of the pou by mana whenua. "We are privileged to have them returned to the heart of our city," she said. The pou are complemented by new landscaping and maintenance of Civic Square, including the replacement of the 50-year-old pavers, which had become a safety risk. The project cost just under $1 million. Artist collective Iwi Toi Kahungunu developed the tile design, which reflects "unity in Hastings' diversity" and includes a special pattern that pays tribute to the WWI and WWII memorials in the square. The pou were to be rededicated at a dawn ceremony on Friday morning. LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
17-06-2025
- RNZ News
Gang members from New Zealand with Cook Islands heritage causing serious concerns
By Talaia Mika , Cook Islands News Cook Islands Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt told Cook Islands News that the movement of known gang members is a regional problem that has found its way into the Cooks. Photo: Cook Islands Police The growing presence and influence of organised gang members from New Zealand with Cook Islands heritage is causing serious concern for local authorities, with police confirming that the Cook Islands is one of the destinations affected by transnational gang mobility across the Pacific. Cook Islands Police media and strategic advisor Trevor Pitt told Cook Islands News that the movement of known gang members is a regional problem that has found its way into the Cooks. "As for the gangs issue, yes I can confirm that the mobility of organised gangs is a concern to law enforcement, not just for the Cook Islands but throughout the Pacific Islands," Pitt said. "We are just one of the destinations impacted by the movement of known gang members." This comes at the back of the New Zealand Police Commissioner Richard Chambers visit to the Cook Islands on Wednesday to deepen its relationship with the Cook Islands Police Service and assist in whatever way they can. Cook Islands News understands that some individuals with connections to these gangs had been posting videos of their lifestyles on TikTok with local youth engaging with and reacting to this content online - a growing concern in terms of influence and aspiration. Pitt said the Cook Islands Police is part of a broader multi-agency network that includes Immigration, Customs, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and Transnational Crime Units (TCUs) across the region, including New Zealand and Australia. He said collaboration and information sharing are critical in developing strategies to combat cross-border criminal activity. He added that while he could not speak for the other agencies, the police partnership with New Zealand Police and Australian authorities are vital, especially as more Cook Islanders with gang ties return home. "The increased mobility of known gang members to the Cook Islands is a growing concern, particularly as our own people are part of the organised criminal element," he said. While Immigration requirements are being followed, Pitt said Police cannot stop Cook Islanders from entering the country if they comply with border regulations. Pitt added that one of the greatest challenges lies with vulnerable youth, especially those sent from New Zealand or Australia due to family problems. "Our at-risk youth are an ongoing problem. That includes those young ones who, unfortunately, are often sent from NZ or Australia due to family issues," he said. "These teens would be at risk whether here or in NZ as organised gangs are known to target troubled youth that are caught up in broken homes and families." Despite existing leadership and youth development initiatives run by Police each year, Pitt acknowledged that the resources to support these young people are limited and the outcomes are not always consistent. "The Police can only do so much with the juveniles and our programmes are limited to the youth leadership and development courses, each year," he said. "While we certainly value the support and cooperation of NZ with these, impact upon troubled juveniles is mixed at best." The rising visibility of gang influence through social media, combined with the real-world presence of returning or visiting gang-linked individuals, has escalated concerns about the safety and well-being of Cook Islands youth. Pitt emphasised that strengthening tactical cooperation with international law enforcement is now a top priority for the Cook Islands Police in the face of these evolving threats. Chambers confirmed that New Zealand is open to supporting the Cook Islands in tackling the gang issue and addressing the potential spread of transnational crime. "We're very open to supporting the Cook Islands in any way that we can," Chambers told Cook Islands News during his visit to Rarotonga. -This article was first published by Cook Islands News .
Forbes
13-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Travelers Want More Than Loyalty Points
Traditional travel loyalty program perks, such as points and elite status, are becoming less influential in maximizing a guest's experience. Travelers increasingly prefer personalized experiences and real-time recognition when booking travel versus traditional travel rewards for loyalty, such as points and elite status, which are becoming more challenging to redeem and enhance the trip quality. A tourist watches waves crash onto a reef protecting the lagoon and a resort on Rarotonga, the largest island of the Cook Islands on June 12, 2025. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) (Photo by WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images Hotel stays are a competitive business as travelers have numerous options. Instead of narrowing down where to stay by traditional metrics like cost or loyalty program membership, many guests also factor in personalization. Hospitality management provider Mews recently polled 2,000 travelers about their preferences and how hoteliers can win their loyalty. Overall, the survey reveals that 68% of respondents favor personalized experiences. The percentages are higher among two particular traveler backgrounds: 'The era of transactional loyalty is over,' says Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews. 'Today's travelers want genuine recognition - the kind that comes from truly understanding who your customer is, why they have come and what they aim to achieve during their trips. More personalized experiences, less loyalty tiers.' This study also finds that 82% of responding travelers are frustrated with traditional point programs. Moreover, only 24% view hotel rewards as the most valuable based on their lifestyle, with grocery store rewards (55%), credit card points (50%), gas rewards (39%), and airline miles (25%) placing higher. The most prominent hotel rewards barriers include: Integrating AI technology enables hospitality providers to efficiently personalize experiences, making each guest feel like a VIP with every stay. Excellent customer service is also crucial, with 62% of travelers citing poor service quality and communication as the top reason for abandoning a brand. This hindrance surpasses issues with broken or faulty facilities, room problems, and a sudden halt in amenities. Jetsetters are increasingly opting for airlines based on convenience or additional perks, rather than concentrating solely on accumulating frequent flyer miles with a specific alliance. For instance, many budget-conscious travelers prefer to fly Southwest Airlines due to its competitive fare pricing and its (recently discontinued) 'two bags fly for free.' Delta Air Lines provides complimentary onboard Wi-Fi to all SkyMiles members on equipped aircraft. The airline also offers in-flight experiences, such as its free Sky Hopper game, to earn entries for monthly prizes. Popular airline loyalty initiatives also include personalizing customer service interactions through AI chatbots, tailored promotions and challenges, and subscription memberships. Nevertheless, alliance loyalty remains significant for frequent flyers, as they can earn elite airline status or redeem multiple award flights each year. Programs are personalizing milestone award choices. Preferences for travel rewards are shifting as guests increasingly prefer personalized perks over the uniform approach that older generations typically favor. Hotels and airlines that challenge the status quo by treating each customer as unique and highly valued stand to benefit the most from this changing trend. Related Articles:
