Articles by Utopia Support

Turangi tip calls for help

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Local

Operators of the Turangi recycling centre are pleading for government help to stop people dumping waste on their property, and to help remove the rubbish.Story and photos, page 12. 11070615

Tax a disincentive

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Local

A 15 percent withholding tax on all interest earned in Cook Islands bank accounts is a disincentive for investors and those trying to save money, Cook Islands News is told. Matavera resident, pensioner and Westpac investor Les Priest says news of the withholding tax, set to be implemented in September once approved by parliament, spoiled […]

Its desperate

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Local

Former Inland Revenue collector Geoff Stoddart has slammed government plans to introduce a tax on interest, saying the idea is a desperate move that will only hurt disadvantaged people. Stoddart said the proposed 15 per cent tax on interest earned from savings and investments in Cook Islands bank accounts would more than likely cost the […]

Opposition not happy with new tax

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Local

Opposition Democratic Party members are not happy with the governments withholding tax which will take 15 percent of all interest earned from Cook Islands bank accounts. Deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen says party members met yesterday to discuss the tax. In general we are not happy with it. The most obvious reasons are it is […]

A bad idea

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, Like many pensioners here I rely on the interest on my savings with the bank to supplement my $92.30 a week government pension and now the government is proposing to take 15% of that interest. That means a pretty big paycut for my family. This month my electricity bill will rise by about […]

Quick fix tax will not be good

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I write to express my view on the proposed 15% tax on peoples savings as reported in your paper dated July 6. I wish to make a humble plea to the CIP Government to do the right thing and the very thing they are proposing as a plan to improve Government revenue by […]

Kata - July 7, 2011

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Kata

Young sailors train in Europe

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands sailors Helema Williams and Taua Elisa are continuing their Olympic campaign at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, in preparation for the 2012 London Olympic test event in early August at Weymouth. A competitive programme aimed at improving competition skills and race fitness has resulted in the experience of a range of weather, […]

Alert cancelled

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

New Zealand Civil Defence issued a tsunami warning for New Zealand and the Pacific yesterday but cancelled it after two hours. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Kermadec Islands, 1000 kilometres northeast of the North Island, at 7.03 yesterday morning. Following the quake, a warning was issued advising New Zealand and the Pacific to be […]

Te Maeva Nui revamped

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

Nine days of cultural performances and singing are planned for this years Te Maeva Nui celebrations from July 29 to August 6. The annual Te Maeva Nui is a celebration of the nations self governance since the constitution on August 4, 1965, and involves the whole country. There is renewed energy in the organising of […]

Baby bonus will cost $360,000

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

The governments election promise to give all parents of newborns a $1000 allowance is this financial year expected to cost $360,000. A previous baby bonus of $300 cost the government an annual $90,000. The new allowance is part of a total welfare payments estimate of $12.5 million for the year ending June 30, 2010. That […]

PM wants 100% renewable energy by 2020

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

Prime Minister Henry Puna has set the Cook Islands the ambitious but not impossible target of becoming 100 per cent reliant on renewable energy within 10 years. Puna, the Minister of Environment, said the Cook Islands government was aiming to generate 50 per cent of the countrys electricity needs from renewable sources by 2015 and […]

100 meet for health

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

Mens health, non-communicable diseases, mental health, research and HIV are the themes for this years Cook Islands health conference, set to begin next week. More than 100 people are expected to attend the various conference sessions on Rarotonga between July 13 and 15, and on Aitutaki July 18 and 19. The sessions are open to […]

McCully aims to tap into views

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

New Zealand foreign affairs minister Murray McCully and his 75-strong delegation arrive on Wednesday at 8.20pm on a chartered New Zealand Air Force 757. The group leaves New Zealand this week for Tonga and Samoa, and from Apia heads to Rarotonga International Airport. McCullys media contact Stephen Parker says there will be two other members […]

Finance minister defends new tax

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

A 15 percent withholding tax on interest earned in Cook Islands bank accounts has been forced on the government at the last minute due to unexpected shortfalls in last years budget appropriations, finance minister Mark Brown says. Apex Agencies Ltd, operating as Toa Petroleum, has to be paid an extra $200,000 to cover losses, in […]

Banks seek more details on tax

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

Trading banks dont know enough about the proposed new tax on interest to be able to make informed comment on it. Cook Islands Bankers Association chairman Scott Howley said more contact with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management was needed to establish how banks and their customers will be affected by the governments proposed […]

Tax on savings a desperate move

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in National

The new tax proposal is a reversal of the earlier reasoning for bank interest to be free of tax. The earlier reasoning stood the test of time over 14 years throughout the eras of both political parties during their years in power. In the past, the objective had been to encourage retention of savings within […]

Just a quick cash grab

Thursday 7 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

This new tax on interest is a mad piece of rocket science, a smoke signaller writes in response to yesterdays front page CI News article that detailed governments plans to require banks to deduct a withholding tax amounting to 15 percent of the interest earned in savings and investment accounts held in the Cook Islands. […]

College rumour malicious

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Local

A suggestion that Titikaveka College will be shut down and turned into a trade school has stumped education minister Teina Bishop. The rumour made it into a parliament session yesterday when deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen posed it as a question to Bishop. A letter was written to the principal of Titikaveka College indicating there […]

McCully brings 80 on promotional tour

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Local

NZ Foreign Minister Murray McCully is reportedly bringing a delegation of 80 people to Rarotonga next week. McCullys office refuses to elaborate on the details of the visit. His media contact Stephen Parker says he is standing by as the information passes through the system and will issue a press release thereafter. Despite the bureaucratic […]