Economy
Empire Bridge report expected next week
Wednesday 17 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands National Environment Service has announced an awaited update on the Environmental Impact Assessment regarding the construction of the Empire Bridge will be ready by next week.
Cook Islander receives Medal of the Order of Australia
Wednesday 17 November 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islander Ngatuaine (Nga) Hosking’s hard work, community spirit and generosity have been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia.
Doubts over projections to get debt back to ‘normal’
Tuesday 16 November 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands financial secretary Garth Henderson cannot quantify if debt will be back to pre-pandemic levels despite assurances from Prime Minister Mark Brown that it will be.
Henderson to reapply for top role
Monday 15 November 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
The Government’s Financial Secretary Garth Henderson is considering reapplying for his job as it has been advertised.
Bank reduces interest rates on home loans
Monday 15 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Prime Minister Mark Brown in congratulating a leading bank for decreasing its home loan interest rates, is keen to see a further reduction in the near future.
CIIC highlights key achievements
Friday 12 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
The Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) delivered the annual presentation of their Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI) to Cabinet earlier yesterday.
Debt back to pre-pandemic levels in three years: PM
Friday 12 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The border opening on January 13 means the economic outlook is now “much rosier” and debt will be back to normal by 2025/26 says, Prime Minister Mark Brown.
Committed to making a difference through polystyrene
Thursday 11 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
Next Shipment, the Cook Islands’ first online Mega Mall, has come up with a sustainable project idea to make use of the surplus polystyrene pieces that come with the 10,000 products that they sell on their site. Beanbag by beanbag, they are hoping to make a difference for the environment.
Cook Islands’ Air New Zealand team starts saliva testing
Thursday 11 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands Air New Zealand staff will start undergoing regular saliva Covid-19 testing instead of nasal swabs. The saliva testing is regarded as more cost-effective and can be done more frequently.
Government agencies to continue support
Tuesday 9 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
Most entities across the Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) portfolio continue to provide support to households and businesses to help support the nation through these trying times.
Government subsidy extended, private sector seeking support beyond Jan 13
Tuesday 9 November 2021 | Written by Al Williams | Published in Economy, National
While wage subsidies and sole trader grants have been extended through to the end of January, the announcement is being treated with caution by the tourism sector.
Helping Cook Islanders in employment
Monday 8 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
After a year of recruiting Cook Islanders to work in meat works factories and fruit picking, Nia Petero gets close to putting 200 people in New Zealand employment.
Nine weeks to our ‘new normal’
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Alana Musselle | Published in Economy, National
With confirmation that the country’s borders are set to open to New Zealand from January 13, businesses especially the tourism reliant companies are not only looking at their preparations, but at some major concerns they are facing due to the long period of being shut down.
Border reopening receives support from Are Ariki
Saturday 6 November 2021 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy, National
The House of Ariki fully support Government’s decision to re-open the borders with New Zealand on January 13 next year.
$2 million grant to revive tourism in Cook Islands
Wednesday 3 November 2021 | Written by Supplied | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands has been handed $2 million in an effort to support tourism and related health infrastructure.
Tourism can bounce back better, says new regional study
Wednesday 3 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The tourism sector in the Pacific including the Cook Islands has been significantly damaged by Covid-19 but there is potential for positive transformation, says the Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative (PSDI).
Superfund shows interest in investing domestically
Wednesday 3 November 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The Cook Islands National Superannuation Fund (CINSF) made an offer to purchase Government’s stake in Vodafone Cook Islands Limited in a bid to invest domestically.
Businesses frustrated as support grant payments delayed
Tuesday 2 November 2021 | Written by Sian Solomon | Published in Economy, National
Business owners have expressed frustration over the delay in receiving support grant payments from the government.
Business confidence survey assists government planning
Saturday 30 October 2021 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy, National
Cook Islands businesses are being called on to join a confidence survey in a combined effort to provide the “true” economic impacts of Covid-19 associated with tourism.
‘Expect the floodgates to open’
Thursday 28 October 2021 | Written by Caleb Fotheringham | Published in Economy, National
The nation is on the brink of an economic collapse which could lead to a mass exodus similar to that of 1996, say Cook Islands business leaders.