Joanna Wane, writing for the New Zealand Herald, captures the special flavor of "island time" in Rarotonga, from the enchanting lagoon to the welcoming smiles of its people. She explores how time seems to slow down on this Pacific island that is more than just white sandy beaches and beautiful resorts.

Click here to read more.

"The relaxation therapy begins the moment I arrive at Rarotonga airport to find a ukulele-strumming man singing welcome songs. Local mamas with flower crowns bustle around the baggage carousel introducing travellers to their hotel and transport reps. Soon I’m tootling along the main road – the 32km Ara Tapu, with no traffic lights and speed limits set between 30kmh and 50kmh – heading to my hotel. Within the hour I’m toes in the sand, sun on my face, staring at a world of blues in a palm-lined lagoon. I can feel my muscles and mind unwinding."

Writer Laura DeCook is a well-seasoned traveller, but what special destination keeps calling her back? None other than our own little paradise. Read why "the magic of the island is too special not to share with others" in this curated guide to Rarotonga.

Read the full article here.

Golfers aged 55+ and their partners are in for a fantastic week at the Rarotonga Legends Vets 55+ Golf Week. With 45 holes of golf set against the tropical beauty of Rarotonga, it’s a great chance to enjoy both the sport and the island. If golf isn’t your thing, don’t worry—there’s a $200 spa pamper package at The Edgewater Resort & Spa for non-golfers, perfect for unwinding and soaking in the island’s tranquility.

Sunset Sessions is back and bigger than ever, ready to take over Vaiana’s on the Beach this Saturday, 24th August. As one of the top events on Rarotonga’s vibrant music scene in recent years, Sunset Sessions has earned its reputation as the go-to beach party for locals and visitors alike. This celebration of house music welcomes people of all walks of life to join on the dancefloor and celebrate life in paradise. With FREE ENTRY and doors opening at 12 PM, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

Prime Minister Brown said Cabinet had made the important decision to re-open the borders to two-way quarantine-free travel from New Zealand on 13 January 2022 based on a range of high-level advice.  This included from the Government’s Border Easement Taskforce, comprising lead officials from key agencies, and from data modelling experts in New Zealand.

Prime Minister Brown said he was very pleased to be providing certainty and hope about the next step for the nation. 

"I’m a very proud Manihikian and we are the only Island that grows the pearls from the lagoon, that’s why I want to use it in my work - to promote my island as well as my work” - Toka Toka Manihikian costume and fashion designer.

Manihiki is famously home to the black pearl farms of the Cook Islands and is the feature of Toka’s work - his costumes and fashion line are a canvas for the natural shells of the Pacific.

Black pearls, mother of pearl and motifs from Mother Nature make his pieces stand out in the world of Island fashion. 

The main motif of the shop however are the chaotic explosions of color that are the hand sewn bespoke tivaevae, lovingly made by mamas from across all of the pa enua.  Each piece of uniquely designed cloth takes hours of painstaking hand stich work, and can take months and sometimes years to finish. 

Often a community initiative with many women working on one piece, these special art pieces have been the pride of the Cook Islands for decades.