More Top Stories
Cook Islands passport proposal
6 January 2025
Top cop position advertised
7 December 2024
Police need numbers and bigger budget
9 December 2024
Niki Rattle: A call for stronger human rights protections
10 December 2024
Solid and Hazardous Waste Bill referred to Parliament committee
10 December 2024
DPM defends CIIC finance and travel policies
6 December 2024
Cook Islands has its first mosque
14 November 2024
CI Muslim opens up about her faith and journey
16 November 2024
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
2 September 2024
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
13 August 2024
Challenging ‘rape culture’
8 July 2024
National
Jewels of the Cook Islands ready to shine at Dine and Dance event
A New Zealand-based Cook Islands entertainment group is on the island and is set to perform tonight in what they say will be a magical night of dining and dancing in Rarotonga.
Aitutaki community re-establishes traditional ra’ui to protect marine
The Aitutaki community has re-established a traditional ra’ui, a temporary fishing ban, in their lagoon to protect marine life and ensure sustainable resource management, with support from the National Environment Service.
Pa enua funding maintained
Government has chosen to keep pa enua expenditure levels steady even as people continue to leave the outer islands. The Budget reveals that island administrations have access to funding totalling $10.8 million for this financial year. Funding comes from the pa enua capital fund ($2.7m), pa enua small capital fund ($110,000), pa enua equipment for […]
PM launches logo competition
Government is offering $500 to the winner of a competition to design the logo for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum. The Government and people of the Cook Islands will be hosting the 43rd Pacific Leaders Forum in Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the last week of August 2012. The Prime Minister and 2012 Forum Chair Hon […]
Health scholarships discussed with Cuban ambassador
Health minister Nandi Glassie recently met with Cuban Ambassador to New Zealand, Her Excellency Maria del Carmel Herrera Caseiro, to discuss possible health scholarships to Cuba for young Cook Islanders in the coming year. The discussions follow on from the visit to the Cook Islands of Ambassador Herrera Caseiro in March, during which she presented […]
Budget breakfast draws questions
Businesspeople raised concerns over VAT thresholds, the Cook Islands’ high cost of living, fishing licences, depopulation and forthcoming import levy increases at a ‘Budget breakfast’ with finance minister Mark Brown and finance secretary Richard Neves yesterday. Prime Minister Henry Puna opened the breakfast meeting, attended by about 80 people, applauding the Budget committee for balancing […]
L'Arago courtesy call
French naval vessel L’Arago arrived in Rarotonga on Wednesday morning on its maiden voyage to the Cook Islands. The ship, which replaced an older French vessel in Tahiti last year, arrived at Avatiu wharf at 8am yesterday and will stay in port until Sunday afternoon. Senior sergeant Stu Tuariki Henry, operations officer and second in […]
Food fest at Avatea
All things yummy will be on sale at today’s Avatea Primary School food festival fundraiser. The food festival, which runs from 10am to 2pm in the school hall, is to raise funds for school events and activities this year. The school hopes to raise $10,000 with energy saving lights at the top of the school’s […]
National debt reducing $14m to $93.6m
By the end of this month, the Crown’s debt levels are expected to reach $93.6 million. Last year the gross debt level was recorded at $107 million. The $14 million reduction in debt levels is the result of a favourable movement in the US dollar to New Zealand dollar exchange rate. Currently the Ministry of […]
GDP expected to grow by 5%
Gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 5 percent this year, driven primarily by a projected increase in tourist numbers. The economy grew moderately in 2009/2010 after contracting in 2008/2009, but the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) expects higher growth going forward. Nominal growth, which does not take into account the effect […]
Trade deficit
Imports continue to exceed exports, resulting in a negative trade balance of $103.7 million. The Budget reveals that about 58 cents is leaking out of the economy for every $1 spent in the Cook Islands, primarily because of the country’s heavy reliance on imports to meet local demand. Last year imports cost the country $105.7 […]
Deposits increase despite new tax
There was no major outflow of capital after the government announced its intention to enact a withholding tax. Overall deposits have in fact increased from $186 million in December last year to $192 – an increase of 3.2 percent. ”There was a lot of concern that we would see hordes of people moving money out […]
Revenue and savings up
Both revenue and savings are up from last year. Total revenue has increased by 3 percent, meaning that currently government is collecting around $158.2 million (including aid). Taxation comprises 58 percent of revenue, grants from other governments make up 30 percent and the remainder is from sources such as sales of goods and services, dividends, […]
Expenditure up 2% to $131.5m
Expenditure is expected to increase by 2 percent to $131.5 million this financial year. The bulk of the increase is the result of government’s commitment to underwrite Air New Zealand flights – a cost of $12.5 million and $13.6 million for this year and next, respectively, which exceeds projected forecasts of $8 million and $10 […]
$3m more from taxation increase
Taxation has increased by an estimated 3.4 percent – increasing government’s revenue by $3 million this financial year. From direct taxation government is estimated to be collecting $38.7 million. The increase is being driven primarily by the withholding tax, the full effects of which become palpable during this financial year. Taxes are expected to increase […]
Budget breaks new ground
The Budget government presented in Parliament yesterday breaks new ground. In his speech, Finance Minister Mark Brown explained that for the first time, the public has access to over 800 pages of detailed information that break down the way government is receiving and spending money. ”The 2012/13 Budget is supported by three documents which provides […]
Bryden follows in dad's footsteps
Aitutaki medical student Bryden Nicholas is following in his father’s footsteps – and recently he returned to the island for a six-week trainee intern placement at Aitutaki hospital. In his sixth year studying medicine at Otago University, 23-year-old Nicholas decided to spend six weeks working in the Aitutaki hospital as well as another three months […]
Nassau fundraiser
The northern group island of Nassau is set to have its first Cook Islands Christian Church ministers in many years when minister-in-training Casey Poila and wife Piva head to the island in mid June. To help cover the cost of relocating to the tiny island – the couple and their Takamoa Theological College family will […]
New scam for Cooks
Businesses beware – there is a new credit card scam out to defraud you. Westpac Cook Islands is warning its customers of a new scam that has been seen around the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia in the past few years. The scam involves an email being sent to businesses, primarily in the hospitality and […]
Big day on the River Thames
Avarua Harbour Sea Scout Jason Potoru rowed with a Kiwi youth crew down the Thames River in London as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Pageant. Deep Sea Scout leader Ron Bird reports from London. Sunday (June 3) dawned overcast but fine as the New Zealand youth crew, which included Avarua Harbour Sea Scout Jason […]
Current cold snap not the last
The Cook Islands Meteorological Service has recorded a low of 16°C on two mornings this week. On Saturday and yesterday, the office recorded 16°C – bringing the average temperature for the last two weeks to between 19 and 24°C. The lowest June temperature on record in the last five years is 15.5°C, which was documented […]
New customs legislation ready
New customs legislation will be tabled in parliament next week. Following is a background explanation provided by Finance Minister Mark Brown: The Cook Islands customs legislation is 99 years old. Back before World War I, there were no such things as cell phones, commercial airlines, the internet, and all the other modern technology available today. […]
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