Economy
All hail the Queen: Cook Islands sends best wishes
Friday 3 June 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown is sending the country’s congratulations and best wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as celebrations begin in Britain and around the world for her Platinum Jubilee.
Raro taro ‘sold out’
Thursday 2 June 2022 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
The demand for home grown Cook Islands taro in New Zealand is high, with 900 kilogram of air freighted chilled taro selling out in two days.
PM to visit Fiji and Australia
Thursday 2 June 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown has a busy travel schedule over the coming weeks.
Citizens Against Corruption to challenge DPM’s reinstatement in court
Thursday 2 June 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Citizens Against Corruption (CAC) will challenge the reinstatement of Robert Tapaitau as Deputy Prime Minister in the High Court.
PM to speak with China foreign minister today
Wednesday 1 June 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown is set to speak with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi today as he reaches the tail end of his Pacific tour.
Inflation rate hike ‘inevitable’, say businesses
Wednesday 1 June 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Inflation is set to rise to 4.3 per cent in the Cook Islands, the highest rate since 2008, and businesses are warning costs will be passed on to consumers.
Bill validates services of Parole Board
Tuesday 31 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Criminal Justice Bill 2022 which passed its third reading on Friday validates the service of the members of the parole board from December 2017.
Cooks-China talks rescheduled
Tuesday 31 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands is yet to hold discussions with the visiting Chinese foreign minister who on Monday urged the Pacific region not to be ‘too anxious’ about his country’s aims after failing to sign a sweeping trade and security communique.
MPs amend rules to allow for increase in sitting days
Monday 30 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Parliament has passed new Standing Orders that allow Members of Parliament to appear virtually and could result in 45 more sitting days a year.
Ombudsman Bill removes age restriction
Monday 30 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
A Bill removing the compulsory resignation of the nation’s Ombudsman at the age of 72 – to enable the current Ombudsman to keep her role – passed its third reading in Parliament on Friday without the Opposition’s support.
Bridges and roads top capital expenditure
Saturday 28 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Infrastructure Cook Islands has been allocated funds to work on roads and bridges in Rarotonga and marine and air infrastructure in the Pa Enua in the 2022/23 Budget.
Election date to be announced following dissolution of Parliament
Saturday 28 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Government has ‘quite a lot’ of international business to attend to before advising the Queen’s Representative to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
Immigration processes 312 Expressions of Interest
Friday 27 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) is currently reviewing the Expressions of interest (EOI) for Cook Islands Permanent Residence (PR) which closed on Thursday last week.
Bank reopens main branch after significant refurbishment
Friday 27 May 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
The Bank of South Pacific Cook Islands held the reopening of their Rarotonga branch on Wednesday.
Budget 2022/23 Passed
Friday 27 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Members of the Parliament and staff worked overtime on Thursday to pass the 2022 Appropriation Bill (Budget) through its third reading at 7.30pm.
Browne backs cannabis referendum
Friday 27 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The support for a proposed referendum on cannabis laws is gaining momentum with the leader of the Opposition Democratic Party backing the idea.
Man gets a month prison sentence for multiple theft
Thursday 26 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
A 21-year-old facing various charges has been sentenced to one month’s prison and 12 months’ probation and told he needs to stay on the straight and narrow if he’s to avoid stricter sentences in the future.
There’s no drive for farmers to plant and export, says Heather
Thursday 26 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Agriculture – one of the biggest economic drivers of yesteryear – has failed the people of Cook Islands, says Opposition deputy leader William Heather.
PR rights raised in Parliament
Thursday 26 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Leader of the Opposition Tina Browne says the Government should re-look at the country’s permanent residency (PR) rules that according to the Friends of Fiji president are discriminatory.
Opposition proposes $12 minimum wage
Thursday 26 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Opposition has vowed to increase minimum wage to $12 an hour and the Old Age Pension by $300 a month if elected into government this year, says leader.
