Lagoon Protection: Aitutaki’s Lagoon Management Plan is in public consultation, aiming for a co-management, community-led approach that strengthens ra’ui protections, enforcement, and governance through the Aitutaki Island Council and traditional leaders, with government partners including Environment, Public Health, Police, Tourism and Transport. Racism Call-Out: A Cook Islands-linked opinion piece argues New Zealand leaders must name racism directly after a racially abusive incident involving Winston Peters and an elected MP, warning that avoiding the word keeps the conversation dishonest. Māori Language Week & Health of Identity: A personal reflection says about 91% of Cook Islanders in Aotearoa can’t speak their reo, and describes why language week can feel heavy—highlighting wellbeing impacts tied to culture and belonging. Travel Health Update: The CDC updated dengue travel notices, changing which countries are listed for risk—reminding travellers that lists can shift even when dengue risk remains. Covid Rules Ease: The Cook Islands is loosening travel requirements, moving from PCR to supervised RATs for arrivals from New Zealand, ending MIQ for unvaccinated people, and aligning isolation rules with NZ. Hepatitis B Awareness: A World Hepatitis Awareness Day story stresses many people with hepatitis B don’t know they have it, and that testing is the key to catching the “silent epidemic.” Ocean Health Data: A month-long Kaharoa II research voyage delivered baseline ocean health data for stronger climate resilience and evidence-based ocean management.