Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 1
Cook Islands down to just 20 days of fuel stock as local suppliers warn of 'significant price increases'
Fuel stocks in the Cook Islands have dropped to just 20 days - less than half of full capacity - and while suppliers are confident this is sufficient, they warn of further price hikes.
"Our fuel storage capacity, if we think about the full capacity, is about 45 days. We currently have around 20 days of stock. Compared to other Pacific islands, we are relatively well positioned," Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) director of Economic Planning Division, Joaquin Vespignani, said while speaking at the Cook Islands Tourism global update on Thursday (Friday NZ time).
Local suppliers are confident that current stock is sufficient to last until the next shipment in early April - provided there is "no panic buying" - but they have warned of looming price increases.
A new price order that took effect on Friday has pushed fuel and LPG prices to among the highest ever recorded in the Cook Islands.…more
The regions next in line for flooding as heavy rain heads south
MetService says there's a strong likelihood of several regions being upgraded to red heavy rain warnings as a damaging storm sweeps across the country.
Northland and Whangārei are currently in a state of emergency, which will last for seven days.
Although rainfall is set to ease for both regions, others may soon be in the flood firing line.
So which regions are preparing for the worst?
Tauranga
Tauranga City Council is also warning people of landslide risks.
An orange heavy rain warning remains in place for Tauranga through to 1am on Saturday.
The warning has a high chance of being upgraded to a red warning.
Due to earlier rainfall and slips, it said there was an increased risk of new landslide occurring and more damage at sites which had already experienced slides.
"If you learn or suspect that a landslide is occurring or is about to occur in your area evacuate immediately if it is safe to do so.
"Seek higher ground outside the path of the landslide.…more
Pads or gas? Pasfika families faced with hard choices
“I’ve had to use my kids’ nappies as pads last week because I was down to my last dollars… we do what we have to do.”
It’s a harsh reality, but for many Pasifika families already hit hardest by the cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel prices have only made things worse.
Seeing petrol prices climb day after day has become a quiet source of pressure for Pasifika across Aotearoa. And yes, even the South Auckland mum with the cleaning job, even the South Auckland mum who’s a lawyer, is feeling the pinch.
Prices have climbed as high as $3.40 per litre following the Iran conflict, landing on top of a cost-of-living crisis that was already pushing families to the edge. All New Zealanders feel it, but not evenly.
The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2026 report already shows Pacific communities carrying the heaviest load. Nearly three in ten Pacific children are living in material hardship. Almost half experience food insecurity. Unemployment is the highest of any ethnic group.…more
Jetstar axes some New Zealand flights amid fuel price surges
Via RNZ
Jetstar has axed a number of New Zealand flights as the war in the Middle East drives up the price of jet fuel.
A Jetstar NZ spokesperson said 12 percent of scheduled services had been impacted, including some services between Auckland and Christchurch as well as Auckland and Wellington, and some international flights between Auckland and Sydney and Auckland and Brisbane.
The changes were temporary, the spokesperson said, due to the rise in jet fuel prices and other rising costs.
All impacted customers had been contacted directly, the spokesperson said, and most had been offered same-day travel.
It comes after Air New Zealand announced it was cancelling four return flights to Samoa.
Air New Zealand said it had nine services to Samoa each week and described the change as "minimal".
It said like other airlines it was dealing with unprecedented volatility with jet fuel prices due to the conflict in the Middle East and was adjusting schedules to manage the impact.…more
Bubbah makes history as first Samoan South Aucklander to perform at SkyCity Theatre
Extra Extra, Read all about it!
South Auckland’s Actor, Writer, Comedian and full time Shnack - King Uluvale aka Bubbah is back! She’s leaving the kuā backs to entertain us once again, at SkyCity Theatre no less. The first Samoan, South Aucklander to do so, and who better than Bubbah to break it in for the rest of us brownies.
After leaving the industry last year to move back home to her village of Utuali’i, she’s making her comeback with a one-and-a-half-hour special at the 2026 New Zealand International Comedy Festival. Promised to be just as funny and lemaffs as her last show ‘Pure Mature’, so buckle up baby! No kids, NO elders, you’ve been warned!
When asked what this opportunity meant to her, the South Auckland icon said the recognition felt different this time.
“It means I’m getting somewhere. It means I’m being heard,” she says. “I’m really grateful for the backyard shows, they definitely helped me find my style as a comedian.”
Those early backyard gigs shaped a voice that remains central to her work today.…more
Oahu hit with worst flooding in 20 years
Severe flooding across Hawai‘i has forced thousands from their homes, as relentless rainfall batters communities and raises fears over the possible failure of a 120-year-old dam.
The crisis is centred on the island of Oʻahu, where muddy floodwaters have inundated roads, destroyed homes and swept away vehicles in what officials are calling the worst flooding the island has seen in more than 20 years. The Pacific are no strangers to the effects of Climate Change, and we are unfortunately the first to feel the devastating impacts.
More than 230 people have been rescued so far, with evacuation orders affecting around 5,500 residents, particularly across North Shore communities like Haleʻiwa and Waialua.
Emergency sirens sounded as authorities issued urgent warnings for those living downstream of the Wahiawā Dam, which has been flagged as being at risk of imminent failure. Water levels rose rapidly during the storm, coming dangerously close to capacity. While levels have since fluctuated, officials warn the situation could quickly worsen if heavy rain continues.
Despite the scale of the disaster, no deaths have been reported.…more
Polyfest 2026 Results
Polyfest 2026 was back for another year! And the Students across the motu brought their best performances to compete for the top spot!
Check out the results to see who took out each stage!
COOK ISLANDS
DIVISION 1
WINNER - Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate
2nd - Tangaroa College
3rd - Manurewa High School
DIVISION 2
WINNER- Otahuhu College
2nd - Aorere College
3rd - Southern Cross Campus
DIVERSITY STAGE
Interpretation of Theme Award
WINNER - Kelston Girls’ College - Filipino Group
2nd - Auckland Girls’ Grammar School - Fijian Group
3rd Place -Marcellin College - Indian Group
Choreography Award
WINNER - Auckland Girls’ Grammar School - Fijian Group
2nd - Kelston Girls’ College - Filipino Group
3rd - Manurewa High School - Hawaiian Group
Overall Winner
WINNER - Kelston Girls College - Filipino Group
2nd - Auckland Girls Grammar School - Fijian Group
3rd - Papatoetoe High School - Indian Group
NIUE
Small Groups
Kamaataga
WINNER - Avondale College
2nd - Papatoetoe High School
Lologo Tapu Tuai
WINNER - Avondale College
2nd - Papatoetoe High School
TAME
WINNER - Avondale…more
'If it's not cultural, what is it?' Fiame questions use of matai titles amid Luxon controversy
Samoa's former Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa says chiefly titles are culturally significant and should not be given to foreign prime ministers.
Fiame made the comment following the commotion over New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon being honoured as a matai on Monday.
Luxon was bestowed the Tuisinavemauluomoto'otua title by the village of Apia.
Samoan Prime Minister La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt had reportedly made fun of Luxon requesting a chiefly title, ahead of his arrival in Apia on Sunday.
Luxon's office strongly denied this, so La'auli tried to walk back the political blunder with an apologetic statement.
New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon embraces his Samoan counterpart La'aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt during the matai title ceremony in Apia on Monday. 16 March 2026 Photo: Facebook / Government of Samoa
The Samoa Observer reported that La'auli had a late night phone call from the head of Samoa's Ministry of Foreign Affairs informing him that Luxon wanted to call off the matai ceremony after "too much interference on social media".…more
Palau Linked Tanker Hit Near Strait of Hormuz as Pacific Braces for Higher Oil Prices
A ship linked to Palau has been seen ablaze near the Strait of Hormuz after reportedly being struck by a projectile, as tensions between the United States and Iran continue to escalate.
The tanker at the centre of the incident, MT Skylight, was widely identified in early reports as Palau-flagged. However, the Palau Ship Registry has clarified that the vessel was no longer registered under Palau at the time of the attack.
In a statement issued from Koror on March 2, 2026, the registry said the tanker had been removed from its records in January 2026 under established compliance and regulatory procedures.
“Certain media reports have referred to the vessel as being registered under the flag of Palau,” the statement read. “The vessel was removed from the Palau registry in January 2026 in accordance with the Registry’s established compliance procedures and applicable regulatory requirements.”
The clarification follows reporting from the Oman Maritime Security Centre, which said the incident occurred about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port in the Strait of Hormuz.…more
Three Samoan Seasonal Workers Killed by Inadequate Median Barriers, Coroner Finds
Three Samoan seasonal workers are being mourned across Aotearoa and Samoa after a crash a coroner says could have been prevented if highway median barriers had met modern safety standards.
In findings released publicly on Tuesday, Coroner Alison Mills concluded that the deaths of Ta’avao Kelemete, Uili Fa’aofo and Leauga Jerry Leauga on State Highway 1 between Bombay and Ramarama on August 26, 2024, were avoidable.
The three men, all related, were travelling in a van with colleagues when a southbound truck crossed the median and collided with them. They died at the scene. A 21 year old remains in critical condition, and two others were injured.
Initial police indications suggested a tyre blew out on the truck, causing it to veer off course. But the coroner found the tragedy was compounded by a legacy wire median barrier installed in the late 1990s that failed to prevent the truck from crossing into oncoming traffic.
Mills stated the crash could have been prevented if the median barrier had been up to current safety standards.…more