Breast cancer screening: Cook Islands women are being urged to book mammograms as the 2026 Breast Screening Programme runs from Monday, July 20 to Friday, August 7 at Rarotonga Hospital, with support from Te Marae Ora, the Cook Islands Breast Cancer Foundation and BreastScreen Australia; women aged 40+ (and those due after 2024) are encouraged to make appointments. Mental health & prevention: Cook Islands mental health specialists warn that early childhood trauma can permanently alter brain development, linking infancy adversity to later behavioural and learning challenges. Workplace health: A new healthy workplace policy is being rolled out across the Cook Islands public sector to tackle the heavy burden of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and mental health. Health workforce training: The University of Auckland’s School of Nursing is strengthening the local health workforce, delivering advanced clinical training to 15 Cook Islands nurses and building ongoing Pacific partnerships. Patient access update: Te Marae Ora’s Patient Referral Policy 2026 expands eligibility for referrals, including permanent returning Cook Islanders (no 12-month stand-down), contract expatriate workers after six months, and Permanent Resident certificate holders. Community & wellbeing: Public servants are also being encouraged to “move more” at work under a new health policy. Sport & health culture: Cook Islands athletes arriving in Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games say they’re “super excited” and can’t wait to compete.