Articles by Utopia Support

New 15% tax on interest

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Local

A new tax is proposed on interest earned from investments and savings in all Cook Islands bank accounts. From September 1 it is highly likely the interest earned in all bank accounts will be taxed at 15 percent, in an effort to generate further revenue for the government. The Ministry of Finance and Economic Management […]

Te Maeva Nui transport on the way

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Local

At a cost of $400,000 this Samoan ferry named MV Lady Naomi will transport pa enua residents to and from Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui celebrations at the end of this month.Story, page 7. 11070528

Brussels office cut from budget

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, I wish to respond to the article Beefed up foreign presence planned that appeared in the July 5 issue of Cook Islands News. After detailed consultations with the Minister responsible for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI), the Deputy Prime Minister, this Ministry submitted a number of specific initiatives for possible […]

Animal clinic denies stealing dog

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Letters to the Editor

A local dog owner is furious that her dog was taken without her knowledge by the Esther Honey animal clinic to be de-sexed. Virginia Wiig claims vets from the clinic stole her dog Lady and spayed the pregnant dog without her consent. In a number of email exchanges with the editor and the Esther Honey […]

Kata - July 6, 2011

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Kata

New Rotary president full of ideas

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Bob Solar Bob Riley has taken office as the president of the Rotary Club of Rarotonga. Outgoing president Maureen Hilyard officially handed over the reins at a Spaghetti House dinner function on Wednesday night. Riley was voted president-elect last year. After taking office this week, he will be president for a term of one year. […]

Mitiaro takes delivery of new barge

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

An island wide celebration was held on the southern group island of Mitiaro for the arrival and blessing of the islands new barge. Building of the barge was contracted through the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning (MOIP) to experienced boat builder Teokotai (Tango) Herman on Aitutaki. The barge is over 9.5 metres in length and […]

Financial industry will lag: FSDA

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Recent budget appropriations indicate that the Cook Islands Financial Services Development Authority (FSDA) will receive the same level of funding it did last year, a total of $443,178. FSDA chief executive Jenner Davis says the flatlined budget will affect the growth of the industry, which is the second-biggest contributor to the Cook Islands economy. FSDA […]

Govt braces for potential $11m tourism loss

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

The Cook Islands government considers underpinning direct flights that link Rarotonga with Los Angeles and Sydney as its single biggest commercial risk for the upcoming financial year. In the 2011-12 Budget Appropriation, the government recognises it has committed to commercial liabilities worth a total $23 million, with $11 million of that being put towards covering […]

Tourism campaigns to continue

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands Tourism Corporation chief executive Carmel Beattie says the corporation will continue its marketing campaigns in Australia and North America to ensure direct flights from Los Angeles and Sydney are well supported. The first planeload of Australian passengers who flew directly from Sydney since last years trial period touched down at Rarotonga yesterday. Beattie […]

Layers of culture welcome visitors

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Rarotonga International Airport hosted a range of celebrations for the first 2011 Australian passengers to fly in directly to the Cook Islands yesterday, welcoming them not just to the nation or island specifically, but even to Nikao at the village level. Singers, dancers and musicians lined the Rarotonga International Airport runway to greet passengers arriving […]

Biggest chop to police

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Cook Islands police need more vehicles to effectively combat crime and Prime Minister Henry Puna is promising the government will deliver by the end of this year. During a parliamentary session yesterday, member of parliament and high court lawyer Norman George asked a question of Puna, who is also the minister for police and justice. […]

Port access assured

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

Access to cargo stored at Avatius harbour will not be compromised during the upgrade taking place at present, finance minister Mark Brown assures Cook Islanders. Brown says the Ports Authority intends to allow business as usual at the Avatiu harbour despite a major upgrade. Even despite this time that we are going through a major […]

Demo ceremonial opening cost $41,512.27

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

The 2007 Democratic Party ceremonial opening of parliament cost double the one staged by the Cook Islands Party Government last week, parliament was told yesterday. Prime Minister Henry Puna was prompted to ask a question of deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen in the debating chamber following public debate about whether the $20,000 spent by government […]

Samoa ferry chartered for Maeva Nui

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

A Samoan ferry will be used to transport northern islands residents to Rarotonga for Te Maeva Nui celebrations at the end of the month. This financial year the Ministry of Cultural Development is allocated $800,000 to host Constitution Day celebrations which mark the 46th year of self government in the Cook Islands. During a parliamentary […]

US willing to pay top price for Kiwi beef

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in National

WELLINGTON, July 5 The beef industry is likely to enjoy high export prices for some time yet, Beef + Lamb market development manager Craig Finch says. Despite an eight per cent dip in beef prices in June, prices for hamburger beef on the United States market have lifted 30 per cent in the past two […]

Secret tutaka visits a stupid idea

Wednesday 6 July 2011 | Published in Smoke Signals

I was listening to the Radio Cook Islands on Monday evening and I heard Papa Charlie Ave [Public Health protection officer] talk about the tutaka property inspections. In his speech, he mentioned something about homeowners needing to ensure their dogs are tied up when his officers visit the homes. Papa Charlie also warned us that […]

First direct Sydney flight arrives

Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local

Singers, dancers and a water cannon have been included in plans to welcome the first planeload of Sydney passengers to have flown directly to Rarotonga this year. Air New Zealand flight NZ60 was due to touch down at Rarotonga International Airport at 7am today, marking the first direct flight from Australia to the Cook Islands […]

MPs reminded of tradition in parliament

Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local

Members of the Cook Islands Parliament are enjoying discourse about whether the $20,000 ceremonial opening of parliament last week was a worthwhile expense. Debate over the ceremony has been heating up, particularly between speaker of the house Sir Geoffrey Henry who supports the ceremony and all its trappings, and deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen who […]

More money for pearl authority

Tuesday 5 July 2011 | Published in Local

The Cook Islands Pearl Authority (CIPA) has received a financial shot in the arms as it plans to rejuvenate the once-mighty pearl industry. The new 2011/2012 budget appropriates $502,387 to CIPA, allowing for greater operating costs than the previous year. Another $3 million is being allocated to CIPA through an NZAid programme, the details of […]