Penrhyn “lifeline” port funding: The US and New Zealand will co-fund a major upgrade to the Penrhyn (Tongareva) port on the Cook Islands’ northern atoll, with US$50m from Washington and NZ$17.5m from NZ, aimed at safer ship landings and better access for fuel, food and construction supplies—while also boosting the atoll’s wider connectivity. Deep-sea mining debate: Greenpeace Aotearoa is pushing back hard, calling the Penrhyn port project “colonialism and resource grabbing” and warning it could pave the way for deep-sea mining, while Te Ipukarea Society is urging transparency and public oversight. Conservation on the move: A new partnership between Waihī Beach and Rarotonga’s Te Ipukarea Society is installing automated predator traps in the Takuvaine Valley cloud forest (over 400m up) to protect native wildlife and seabirds from rats and feral cats. Tourism spotlight: Te Marama o te Manava Tūroto (Tourism Month 2026) runs Sept 1–30, featuring People’s Choice Awards, Tourism Woman of the Month and a Youth Tourism Pathway Programme. Scam warning for stays: Cook Islands accommodation operators are being urged to watch for a global scam using stolen cards and fake death certificates to demand “unusual” refunds. Cultural ties abroad: The Cook Islands High Commission joined diaspora at Koroneihana 2026 in Aotearoa, marking the second anniversary of Māori Queen Te Arikinui Kuini Ngā Wai Hono i te Pō. Pacific security push: Australia announced a US$600m surveillance program targeting narco-smuggling routes across the Pacific, with the Cook Islands named among key partners in the wider regional picture.