Junior sport & travel links: Twenty-four young Ngakau Toa Vaka paddlers (aged 12–17) are set to represent the Cook Islands at the Trans-Tasman Gubbi Gubbi Waka Ama Regatta on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, travelling to Lake Kawana from Sept 28 to Oct 5 as part of the Auika Junior Development Programme. Tourism awards: The 2026 Te Iki’anga a te Iti Tangata People’s Choice Awards drew more than 17,000 votes, spotlighting the people behind the visitor experience. Environment & visitor experience: Te Ipukarea Society brought government, private sector and Pa Enua stakeholders together to push practical, coordinated solutions to plastic pollution, including stronger cooperation and a National Action Plan for Plastics. Media & resilience: Cook Islands News publisher John Woods was honoured at the Pacific Islands News Association summit in Fiji for 55 years in media, reflecting on surviving pandemic-era shifts. Tourism outlook: Cook Islands Tourism says the country is on track for another strong year heading into 2027 despite global challenges. Local tourism leadership: CITIC re-elected Liana Scott as president for 2026/27, with priorities including workforce and immigration, policy reform, business competitiveness and destination sustainability. Health & access: The Te Marae Ora mammogram programme screened 398 women on Rarotonga and the Pa Enua, flagging those needing repeat tests, ultrasound and specialist follow-up. Outer-island infrastructure debate: US ambassador Jared Novelly says Washington is not discussing a military base at Penrhyn/Tongareva, while the wharf project remains framed around connectivity.