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6 December 2024
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CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
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RAC to address mosque legality
19 November 2024
I don’t expect much change: PM Brown on US Elections
6 November 2024
Fifth weekly Sydney flight to Rarotonga announced
23 October 2024
CIIC directors seek $350,000 in damages over defamatory claims
21 October 2024
Man found guilty of rape, burglary
24 September 2024
Tenants face water bill burden
8 October 2024
Concerns over Minister’s role in inmate work releases: PAC
5 October 2024
Tourism contribution set to surpass half-billion dollar mark
25 September 2024
Parliament Clerk sparks outrage over deep sea mining statement
23 September 2024
Deep sea dilemma: Cook Islanders weigh the cost of mineral riches
21 September 2024
Anxiety on the rise: Cook Islands faces mental health challenge
7 September 2024
Cook Islands deep sea mining poll sparks controversy
7 September 2024
MCI rejects ‘dark fleet’ label
3 August 2024
Rising seas, rising costs: Climate impacts on Cook Islands economy
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Inflation eases but concerns remain
31 August 2024
Prime Minister defends $659,000 MPs travel bill
23 August 2024
Taxpayers foot $659,000 bill for MPs travel and allowance
22 August 2024
Corruption report exposes ‘bribe and sexual favours’
17 January 2023
PM Brown eager to hand over Forum chair role to Tonga
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Challenging ‘rape culture’
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Articles by Utopia Support
Setting new records in Parliament
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
For the first time in at least five years, the Cook Islands Parliament is dealing with the annual Budget without rushing and without cutting debate short. The new CIP Government under Prime Minister Henry Puna appears to have started delivering on its promise to sit for at least 100 days this year. In all previous […]
Look at other avenues
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Ruaau MP William Smiley Heather said in Parliament yesterday that he supports many of governments plans, but not the proposed withholding tax. In Cook Islands Maori he asked the government to reconsider its proposal. I would like to urge the government to re-look at this issue. Have another look, step back and revisit the matter, […]
Opposition delivers verdict on budget
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Deputy leader of the opposition Wilkie Rasmussen believes the new budget is 70 percent good, 30 percent not good. In parliament he commended the government for its financial support of outer islands infrastructure projects, but he lamented the increase in the level of funding to ministerial support offices. This government is not seeing cost-cutting measures […]
More business with China forecast
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
China is actively scoping investment opportunities in the Cook Islands, particularly in relation to noni juice and black pearls. During a session of parliament yesterday, Prime Minister Henry Puna voiced his approval of a Chinese business delegation from New Zealand in Rarotonga at present. The delegation is determining whether Cook Islands noni juice can be […]
PM calls budget bold
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Prime Minister Henry Puna is proud of this financial years budget, which has yet to be formally adopted by parliament. Puna addressed fellow ministers and members of parliament in the debating chamber yesterday to defend the appropriations made for the next 12 months. Although my friend from Mitiaro (MP Tangata Vavia) said theres only three […]
Promise on Arorangi jetty safety
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Safety was the word of the day at Arorangi yesterday. Representatives from the government, ports authority and Arorangi Primary School came together to sign a memorandum of understanding, with the school facing the prospect of becoming the Cook Islands unofficial welcoming party once a jetty at the site is completed. The Ports Authority has set […]
New tax to include children
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Children will be included among the groups to be slugged by a proposed new tax on interest amassed in Cook Islands banks. The new levy, a proposed 15 percent withholding tax on interest earned in all accounts, will include money earned through primary school saving programmes such as that run by the Bank of the […]
Around 450 sailing from outer islands
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
A tight schedule means there is no time for fuel to be transported between islands when those from the northern group travel aboard a Samoan vessel to Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui celebrations at the end of this month. MV Lady Naomi is departing Samoa bound for Pukapuka in the next two weeks. It will […]
Finance minister defends tax
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown took an opportunity in parliament yesterday to address criticism of the proposed 15 percent withholding tax on interest. Brown acknowledged the various comments from parliament members as well as general Cook Islands citizens on the tax amendment bill, which is set to be tabled in parliament next week. Much of it […]
Two former All Blacks to accompany McCully
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in National
Along with rugby hall of famer Jonah Lomu and Rugby World Cup chief executive Martin Snedden, former All Black Ofisa Junior Tonuu will visit Rarotonga this week. They will accompany New Zealand foreign minister Murray McCully on his Pacific mission, which comes to Rarotonga on Wednesday. A number of NZ journalists TVNZ reporter Barbara Dreaver […]
House rebel and rabble
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals
A smoke signaller writes: It was nice, if a little patronising, to hear the gentlemanly exchange in parliament between the speaker Sir Geoffrey Henry and opposition deputy leader Wilkie Rasmussen over their slanging match. Sir Geoffrey first apologised for accusing him of being part of a team of rebels, referring to Wilkies criticism of the […]
Plenty of business for CICC assembly
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Church Talk
The head office of the Cook Islands Christian Church in Takamoa is well into preparations for its 29th general assembly, scheduled for October 23 to 30. The biennial assembly has been held in Rarotonga for the past 30 years, but this year will be held outside of Rarotonga. The 2013 assembly has already been confirmed […]
Avoiding dangers in personal Christianity
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Church Talk
Every religion has a certain amount of intellectual content which the follower of the religion presumably wants to get to know. But Christians face two specific dangers as they grapple with Christianitys doctrines. On the one hand, they often become unduly subjective. Christian teaching concerns the nature of God and what he has done for […]
Plans for Nadi flight shelved
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Local
Plans to establish a direct flight between the Cook Islands and Fiji have been dropped for the coming financial year. The Cook Islands government announced in December last year it would be underpinning a direct flight between Rarotonga and Nadi from this month. The planned route was to begin at the same time as the […]
Tax plan a hornets nest
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Local
Mitiaro MP Tangata Vavia says the proposed 15 percent tax on interest is like taking candy from a child. Yesterday he asked parliament to consider how the tax will discourage children from trusting in the principles of saving and investing. (A) kid will be disappointed to realise there is 15 cents taken out of that […]
CITC chairman blasts tax proposal
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) executive chairman Trevor Clarke has joined the growing chorus of people criticising the governments much-maligned proposal to introduce a withholding tax in the country. In a letter to the editor delivered to Cook Islands News yesterday, Clarke said the proposed 15 per cent tax on interest was not properly thought […]
Chinese probe noni options
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Local
A Chinese delegation is in Rarotonga scoping investment opportunities, including the possibility of Cook Islands noni juice being exported to China and blended with fruit juice on a mass scale. Members of the New Zealand Chinese Business Roundtable Council arrived on two Air Rarotonga flights from Niue yesterday afternoon. They are travelling with representatives from […]
Stop buying phosphate soaps
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, Manea Foods and a few other grocery and drygoods importers recently received a polite note from Mata Hetland of the Muri Environment Care Team wondering why Rarotonga stores still sell wash powders that contain phosphates. Matas concern is, of course, that phosphates can create all kinds of problems with our lagoons. Behind Matas […]
Its hopelessly impractical
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The last minute measure of the proposed withholding tax on interest has not been thought through fully. Most borrowers from the banks make monthly payments of fixed amounts. The bank applies part of the payment to interest and part to principal repayment. The interest rate doesnt change but the interest amount changes every […]
Tax proposal will implode
Friday 8 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor, The proposed new tax of 15% by MFEM on the peoples hard earned savings is not the right way to go. It is penalising people who have built some hard earned savings over the many years and discouraging them and others from saving. Surely MFEM is not that desperate to advise the Minister […]
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