Economy
New Aitutaki crane boosts cargo capacity
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National, Outer Islands
The Cook Islands Ports Authority’s new crane in Aitutaki will lift the current weight restriction of 20 tonne to 25 tonne, allowing importers and the people of the island to add more tonnage of goods to containers.
PAC chair Elikana demands transparency on public funds
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
The chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for stricter accountability and transparency in the use of public funds by government entities, state-owned enterprises, and Crown agencies.
MFAI offices to close for day as staff get time off following ‘heavy year’
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Local, National
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) offices will close on Monday as staff take the day off.
High growth, high prices: Economy bounces back, but inflation bites hard
Saturday 16 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
Cook Islands’ resurgent economic growth post-Covid-19 has been overshadowed by an unprecedented surge in inflation, with prices rising by 13 per cent over the past year. Rashneel Kumar and Losirene Lacanivalu reports.
Statistics attachment boosts Maritime’s data management
Friday 15 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
The Maritime Safety Authority databases will now be managed and used more effectively, thanks to upskilling attachment training within government agencies.
Browne struggles to get answers over $640,000 vessel charter
Friday 15 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
Opposition leader and Rakahanga MP Tina Browne has made little progress over the course of two days, in trying to get answers from Pukapuka MP Tingika Elikana about a $640,000 charter vessel which left Rarotonga on Wednesday bound for Pukapuka.
Cook Islands to crack down on crypto with new Recovery Bill
Wednesday 13 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
A new Bill that will enable Government to seize and forfeit cryptocurrency will be tabled in Parliament this week.
Maritime Cook Islands denies vessels linked to North Korean smuggling networks
Wednesday 13 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National
Maritime Cook Islands (MCI) has shot down suggestions that Cook Islands-registered vessels are linked to North Korean “smuggling networks”.
PM defends Cabinet expansion
Wednesday 13 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National, Parliament
Increased demands and workload prompt the government’s proposal to expand its Cabinet from six to eight members, says the Prime Minister. Rashneel Kumar reports.
WCPFC20 ends with mixed results
Tuesday 12 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, Environment, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Hosts Cook Islands expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of the 20th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC20), which concluded over the weekend.
‘No guts’: Senior lawyer slams proposed cannabis legislation
Tuesday 12 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Health, National, Politics
A senior lawyer has lambasted proposed legislation supporting availability of cannabis in the Cook Islands, saying it has ‘no guts’.
Pukapuka ferry trip for diaspora costs $640,000
Tuesday 12 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Local, National, Outer Islands, Regional, Samoa
A Samoan passenger ferry chartered by the Cook Islands government for $640,000 is scheduled to arrive in Rarotonga today and take 160 New Zealand and Australia based people of Pukapuka descent to the northern island. Al Williams reports.
Funding uncertainty as climate change impacts Pacific
Monday 11 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Local, National, Weather
‘The Cook Islands is highly vulnerable and at risk to extreme events’
Cooks warms to cannabis debate
Monday 11 December 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, Health, Local, National, Politics
‘Hemp could have a commercial benefit for Cook Islands’
High cost of living and low wages leaves little bread left on the table
Saturday 9 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
With rising bread prices, a mother and grandmother have urged people struggling to make ends meet to utilise the readily available local root crops.
Government seeks more Ministers
Saturday 9 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, Local, National, Parliament
The Cook Islands government is seeking to increase the number of Cabinet Ministers from six to eight through a proposed amendment to the Constitution, which will be tabled in Parliament next week.
Cruise ship makes detour to Palmerston with medical supplies
Friday 8 December 2023 | Written by Joanne Holden | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
With the next cargo ship visit to Palmerston two months away, a passing cruise ship will be dropping off medical supplies to the island on its way to Tonga.
Bread prices rise again
Friday 8 December 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
The Price Tribunal has confirmed an increase in bread prices, effective Sunday, December 10. This new price structure applies only to rectangular, sliced loaves produced by Avarua Bakery and Turoa Bakery.
Fisheries commission meeting ends today, decisions on key proposals expected
Friday 8 December 2023 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
The 20th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC20) concludes today at the National Auditorium, with decisions expected on several key proposals.
Pacific police unite to build networks and capability for a safer region
Wednesday 6 December 2023 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National, Pacific Islands, Regional
Fifteen Pacific police agencies are attending the three-day Pacific Community for Law Enforcement Cooperation (PCLEC) meeting to discuss the ongoing development and strengthening of its network.
