Youth Sport & Ocean Skills: Nine young sailors from the Rarotonga Sailing Club are racing the Cook Islands flag at the Yacht Club de Tahiti Optimist Oceania Championship, facing strong winds, big swells and first-time reef sailing while coach Jacobo Miquel Lopez puts safety first. Education & Inclusion: Apii Te Uki Ou marked the blessing of a New Zealand-funded accessible deck and ramp, improving safe access to the school’s library, sensory room and learning support spaces for all students. Culture & Community Ties: PM Mark Brown’s visit to Wuzhou, China highlighted the launch of the MV Tuitui Moana and deeper maritime cooperation, alongside cultural and economic site visits. Regional Aviation & Tourism: ASPA81 brought Pacific aviation and tourism leaders to Rarotonga to discuss partnerships shaping “island economies in flight” and strengthening regional connectivity. Pa Enua Youth Sport: Aitutaki joined the Rising Stars Championship for netball, rugby and volleyball, with organisers stressing discipline, responsibility and smoke- and alcohol-free healthy habits. Cook Islands on the International Stage: Cook Islands athletes and teams also featured across the region, from Oceania sailing and athletics record-breaks to Commonwealth Games bowling selections. Pacific Mobility Policy: New Zealand’s visa fee reductions and longer multi-entry options for Pacific travellers may cost millions in revenue, but aim to deepen connections.