Economy
$6.1 million for Rarotonga road works
Monday 16 May 2022 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
A Rarotonga-based contractor will undertake road renewal work spanning 4.5 kilometres and contract value of over $6 million.
Tourism yield should be top priority: MP
Monday 16 May 2022 | Written by CI News Staff | Published in Economy, National
A senior Opposition Democratic Party MP says pressure must be brought on Cook Islands Tourism to initiate innovative strategies that will change the current focus of attracting high numbers of visitors to the country to getting better economic yield.
Minimum wage increase brings mixed reactions
Saturday 14 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
The move to increase the minimum wage in the Cook Islands by 50 cents per hour to $8.50 has drawn a mixed response.
Tourism yield versus numbers
Saturday 14 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands needs to focus both on returning to previous traveller numbers and increasing yield, says Tourism Minister Patrick Arioka.
Minimum wage rises to $8.50
Saturday 14 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Minimum wage in the Cook Islands is set to increase by 50 cents to $8.50 per hour from July 1, 2022.
Indonesia Ambassador makes history as first to visit Cook Islands
Friday 13 May 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for the Cook Islands has made history as the first to visit the country.
CIIC addresses market vendors
Friday 13 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
A Punanga Nui Market vendor meeting was held to clarify “misinformation or misunderstandings” in relation to future market plans, says Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC).
Price at the pump is set to bite
Thursday 12 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Pressures on the supply of oil and the situation in the Ukraine will likely lead to increased pain at the pump later this month, according to the Price Tribunal.
Worker delays hit businesses
Thursday 12 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
The first of the new Fijian workers are arriving in the Cook Islands thanks to Air New Zealand’s Fiji Labour Movement Airfare Support scheme, but some businesses are reporting delays in getting them processed.
Empire Bridge completion two weeks away
Wednesday 11 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Empire Bridge is expected to be completed within two weeks, says Landholdings representative John Batty.
Tourism future is all about yield
Monday 9 May 2022 | Written by Cameron Scott | Published in Economy, National
Tourism industry leader Robert Skews says the future of Cook Islands tourism is not just about numbers anymore, but rather about the yield on the length of the visitors’ stays.
Another crash fuels police predictions
Saturday 7 May 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
A crash at Titikaveka earlier this week has added fuel to Police predictions that road incidents will continue to climb as traffic on Rarotonga builds due to the influx of visitors.
Police predicting more road incidents
Friday 6 May 2022 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
An overnight crash at Titikaveka is adding fuel to Police predictions that road incidents will continue to climb as traffic on Rarotonga builds.
China donate's emergency equipment
Friday 6 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
China has donated 50 chainsaws and high-quality radios worth over $100,000 to the Cook Islands to be used in emergency management.
Buying local the way to go: PM
Thursday 5 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Cook Islands needs to improve productivity and promote buying local to beat inflation, says Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Worker ‘scramble’ warning
Thursday 5 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands businesses are warning there might be a “scramble” to obtain permission for Fijian workers coming into the islands, with many still in transit.
Calls for Fiji to be on transit visa waiver list
Wednesday 4 May 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands businessman Steve Anderson is calling on the New Zealand Government to add Fiji to its transit visa waiver list to help its labour shortage.
Covid leaves businesses reeling
Wednesday 4 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
The extent and severity of Covid-19’s impact on businesses in the Cook Islands over the past year has been laid out in a wide-ranging report.
Calls to raise the minimum wage to $10 per hour
Monday 2 May 2022 | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in Economy, National
Support for raising the minimum wage in the Cook Islands appears to have found the favour of a Government-appointed panel.
Isolation income support system issues smoothed out
Saturday 30 April 2022 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The new isolation and income support system is up and running says Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM) macroeconomist Tristan Metcalfe.
