Best Suwarrow Podcasts (2025)

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Now we are 60: The party so far 15:26

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22d ago15:26

15:26

What do the best breadfruit stew, the unveiling of 15 stunning murals and a colourful and noisy parade of dancing, drumming and singing in the streets have in common? They're just some of the events so far in a whole year of celebrations marking 60 years of self-government in the Cook Islands. In this podcast, we look back at what's been happening …

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DIAMOND CELEBRATION OF A NATION 15:22

2M ago15:22

15:22

The Cook Islands is having the biggest celebration in its history. 2025 sees a whole year of events marking 60 years of self-government and this is a special edition of Kukicast as the main events get underway. Pride in identity is reflected in the chosen theme for the year, "I know who I am. I have a homeland" (Kua Kite au i toku turanga, a Avaiki…

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A young family's Cook Islands legacy 27:04

2M ago27:04

27:04

This is a very personal story of a young family from London, England who moved to the Cook Islands to work as missionaries at a pivotal point in its history. It’s told in a new book by way of some of the hundreds of letters, photos and documents they sent home to their parents. Their son, Simeon Sturney talks about what that legacy reveals about Is…

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The biggest birthday party in Cook Islands' history 26:59

5M ago26:59

26:59

2025 marks 60 years of self-rule in the Cook Islands and big celebrations are planned. Emile Kairua from the Ministry of Cultural Development is organising them and in this podcast he gives an insight into what's planned and the challenges he faces putting together the biggest party in Islands' history. He talks about what it is to be a Cook Island…

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PALMERSTON ISLAND - An Englishman's Legacy 27:06

5M ago27:06

27:06

PALMERSTON ISLAND, 500kms North West of the capital island of Rarotonga, is populated by the descendants of Englishman William Marsters who settled there in 1863. And although it’s part of the Cook Islands, a law passed in 1954 gives those descendants ownership of the island in perpetuity. Six main islets are scattered around its 39 sq. kms of lago…

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Hold the front page! 21:40

6M ago21:40

21:40

Meet the man who knows more about the Cook Islands than nearly anyone else…because it’s his job to know. Rashneel Kumar is the editor of ‘Cook Islands News’, the six days a week national newspaper. It’s a must read for thousands of islanders and many more overseas who keep up with what’s happening through its on-line edition. Rashneel talks about w…

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Why the Cook Islands should be on every bucket list 14:17

7M ago14:17

14:17

The Cook Islands are a very long way from anywhere unless you happen to live in New Zealand…and even then they’re a three and a half hour plane journey away. So how do you persuade people from the UK, Europe and the USA to discover this remote South Pacific Paradise? That’s the challenge facing Robert Skews every day as he promotes the Islands thro…

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AITUTAKI - Jewel in the Cook Islands crown 21:09

7M ago21:09

21:09

Aitutaki is the second most visited of the Cook Islands and a picture-perfect paradise with a lagoon so blue you’d think someone had painted it that colour! Swimming or snorkelling among its colourful coral and abundant sea life is like being in a gigantic tropical fish tank. Tourism is well-developed but Aitutaki still remains unspoiled and life m…

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16 years alone on a deserted island 24:55

10M ago24:55

24:55

The idea of living alone for years on a deserted island might be a nightmare for some, but for Tom Neale it was his dream come true. He spent 16 years of his life on remote Suwarrow in the Cook Islands and became world famous when he told his story in the book, “An Island to Oneself”. Now, nearly 60 years after its publication his daughter, Stella …

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Fish sandwiches and beer - Ian Rankin's Cook Islands 24:37

11M ago24:37

24:37

The Cook Islands are a world away from Edinburgh in Scotland where best selling author, Ian Rankin lives and his novels about Detective Inspector John Rebus are set. But in this episode, Ian recalls his holiday in the Polynesian paradise. The unspoiled beauty, the friendly locals…and the fish sandwiches and local beer all made a big impression. He …

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Introducing Kukicast 5:46

11M ago5:46

5:46

Find out what KUKICAST is all about in this short introduction with clips from some of the episodes. Presenter John Roberts tells of his love for this Polynesian paradise in the South Pacific and how this podcast is his way of sharing it with the help of guests including tourism boss, Karla Eggleton, Aitutaki Mayor Nick Henry and best selling autho…

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Sharing the love: Cook Islands Tourism CEO 29:12

2y ago29:12

29:12

WHAT IS IT THAT MAKES THE COOK ISLANDS SO SPECIAL? Karla Eggelton definitely knows because she’s lived there all her life and is uniquely placed to tell us as she’s Chief Executive of tourism. In this episode, she gives us a unique insight into the capital island of Rarotonga, its next most visited neighbour, the stunningly beautiful Aitutaki and s…

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"Trader Jack" Cooper - a Cook Islands legend 20:33

2y ago20:33

20:33

Trader Jacks near the harbour on Rarotonga is iconic. In this episode, Jack's daughter, Vanessa talks about its colourful history and its legendary owner. Sadly, Jack Cooper died in June, 2022 but his legacy lives on in a new book. Vanessa chats about that and shares some of the 40 years of trials and tribulations, hilarious stunts and downright un…

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A Young Adventurer on Penrhyn/Tongareva 16:28

2y ago16:28

16:28

24 year old Tom Robinson from Brisbane, Australia was on an 8,000 nautical miles voyage from Peru to Australia aiming to become the youngest person ever to row single-handed across the Pacific. He spent 12 months a tiny boat he designed and built himself and made landfall along the way to resupply and explore the cultures of the South Pacific. Tom…