Economy
ICI apologises for ‘accidental’ Vaimaanga backroad clearing
Tuesday 9 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Infrastructure Cook Islands secretary Elizabeth Wright-Koteka says lessons have been learned in the wake of the ‘accidental’ clearing of a section of Vaimaanga Ara Metua backroad in Titikaveka.
Agriculture ministry and NZ to sign ‘Export Plan’
Monday 8 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Biosecurity Quarantine Arrangement (BQAs) signed in 1999 between New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) will be replaced by an Export Plan in a bid to boost agricultural export to NZ.
Jetstar flight arrives in Raro short of passenger luggage
Friday 5 May 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Jetstar passengers to Rarotonga have been left in the lurch after their luggage did not arrive with them.
Cook Islands PM makes case for country’s economy at ADB meeting
Friday 5 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is calling on the Asian Development Bank to make it easier to access funding for climate resilience, and be lenient in debt servicing.
Call for stronger approach to labour laws
Friday 5 May 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce is calling on the government to strengthen its labour laws amid concerns about the potential for worker and employer exploitation.
Local employers left in limbo as foreign workers leave in droves
Monday 1 May 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
Loss of foreign workers to New Zealand post Covid-19 pandemic has become a major issue for local businesses who are struggling to fill the void left by these workers, most of whom are leaving the country without proper notice.
Call to boost Government role in digital transformation strategies
Thursday 27 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
A major report on digital services in the Cook Islands recommends the Government bolster its ICT division.
Air New Zealand customers frustrated over changes to Raro flight schedules
Thursday 27 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, Tourism
A worldwide shortage in A320 neo and A321 neo aircraft engines has led to changes and cancellations in Air New Zealand Rarotonga flights leaving customers frustrated. Matthew Littlewood and Al Williams report.
Samuela appointed new Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
Former principal immigration officer Kairangi Samuela has been confirmed as the Cook Islands’ new High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Fast-tracked Aussie citizenship prompts fears of labour exodus
Wednesday 26 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Changes to citizenship rules in Australia could have an impact on the Cook Islands population.
Labour shortage a major concern: ADB
Saturday 22 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Labour, or the desperate shortage of it, here and across the Pacific, is a major concern for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in delivering its latest regional economic update. Al Williams reports.
Hotelier in talks with airline for year-round charter flight
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
The owner of The Rarotongan Resort and Lagoonarium says he is in talks with an airline over the development of a possible year-round charter flight airline.
Weather always an obstacle for cruise ships, says Tourism
Friday 21 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National, Tourism
Weather will always be a significant impediment for realising the full potential of a cruise ship, says Cook Islands Tourism Corporation.
Marine tourism rules imminent for Cook Islands
Thursday 20 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
New marine tourism rules and guidelines are imminent as Cook Islands Tourism Corporation finalises the details.
Internal affairs inundated with employment related complaints
Thursday 20 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Local, National
The Labour and Consumer Services unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (INTAFF) has received more than 100 various queries and complaints from workers and employers for multiple matters for the first three months of 2023.
Diversify travel offerings and invest in infrastructure: ANZ
Wednesday 19 April 2023 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands along with other Pacific nations require not only hard but soft infrastructure investment such as telecommunications according to an economic outlook report into sustainable tourism.
Boosting Cook Islands exports
Tuesday 18 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
A weeklong workshop being held in Rarotonga focuses on ways to help export Cook Islands products to New Zealand and other overseas markets.
Rethink tourism approach, Opposition leader tells govt
Monday 17 April 2023 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Opposition leader Tina Browne has called on the Government to rethink its approach to tourism.
PM clarifies top taxman’s sabbatical leave
Monday 17 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown told Parliament last week that the sabbatical leave taken by the Revenue Management Division director Xavier Mitchell “is a leave without pay”.
Workshop on pathways to access NZ markets
Saturday 15 April 2023 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, National
A team from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (NZMPI) will be holding a workshop next week aiming to confirm existing pathways and research new pathways to access New Zealand markets.
