Economy
Minimum wage to $8
Friday 2 August 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy
Low-income workers’ pay was increased to $7.60 last month and now, government has signed off a further increase to $8 an hour next July.
Pa Enua crafts a Trade Day hit
Wednesday 31 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy
Nga Matapo sets up the handmade shell eis of poi poi and the popular ei pupu at the Mangaia Enua stall for the annual Te Maeva Nui BCI Trade Days.
Fiji, Hawai'i and exotic Bali take our New Zealand tourists
Thursday 25 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy
New Zealand tourist numbers here have levelled off as Kiwis fly further afield to Hawaii and exotic Bali.
Indonesians 'the best workers' – Puna
Tuesday 16 July 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy
As the influence of Asian countries continue to grow in the Pacific region, Cook Islands’ new diplomatic relations with Indonesia will enable an upsurge in migrant workers coming here.
The final straw
Thursday 11 July 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy
Trader Jack’s was the first bar on the island to ban plastic straws, two years ago.
Tourism boss says dogs must get the chop
Tuesday 9 July 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy
Effective control of dogs is critical to ensuring the safety of both locals and visitors, says Tourism’s chief executive officer.
Support for economic growth
Wednesday 3 July 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy
Germany and Canada could help the Cook Islands drive future growth of tourism and the economy says the head of Foreign Affairs.
New support to protect porous islands borders
Thursday 27 June 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy
New Zealand will support the Cooks to control the remote coastlines of Aitutaki and the vulnerable Pa Enua. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration admits it has had difficulties delivering immigration services over the past three years.
Cameras catch massive tuna catch
Wednesday 26 June 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy
Seven longline vessels have transferred 850 tonnes of albacore tuna on to the big Chinese freezer ship that has caught the eye of locals.
$12m tax write-off; $19m tax collected in amnesty
Saturday 22 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
A controversial tax amnesty has succeeded in recovering $19.4 million in unpaid tax, to the delight of the finance ministry.
'Keep customers happy'
Thursday 20 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
The Vaka Cruise, an Aitutaki lagoon tour company, is hoping its big win at the A1 Meitaki Awards last week will help them cement a number one spot in the business.
Chinese products promoted here
Thursday 20 June 2019 | Written by Melina Etches | Published in Economy
Companies from China are in the country to promote their products to the local market.
Meitaki! Tourism operators inspire young
Tuesday 18 June 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
Renowned lagoon tour company The Vaka Cruise was the big winner at the A1 Meitaki Awards on the island of Aitutaki on Friday last week.
Cheapest fares to Cooks, no returns
Monday 10 June 2019 | Published in Economy
JETSTAR is celebrating its 10th anniversary in New Zealand by announcing some of the cheapest airfares ever to Rarotonga. Tourists and returning Cook Islanders can travel one-way from Auckland for just $159.
Water disinfection explained
Saturday 1 June 2019 | Written by Losirene Lacanivalu | Published in Economy, Entertainment, Local, National, Weekend
Do we need to disinfect our drinking water? Several reports have highlighted the need to improve the quality of the drinking water throughout the Cook Islands – Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. In Rarotonga work has started on the provision of a more robust supply of water with better distribution and increased water storage for times of drought.
Brown highlights Cooks disaster fund
Friday 10 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
The Cook Islands have developed “quite a bit” in terms of disaster-risk recovery and preparedness in terms of financial instruments, says deputy prime minister Mark Brown.
Fijians pleased with super deal
Friday 10 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
The Fijian community in the country has welcomed the latest arrangement between the superannuation Funds in Fiji and the Cook Islands.
How Cooks turned around debt crisis
Thursday 9 May 2019 | Published in Economy
With their far-flung territories and distance from global economic hubs, the Pacific islands face significant hurdles in delivering social and infrastructure services to their people. Adding to this challenge are these countries’ narrow economic bases, which limit their ability to collect domestic revenues; their reliance on mostly imported inputs; and their vulnerability to disasters and extreme climate change, the impacts of which can drive up public spending.
Cooks sign up for copyright treaties
Thursday 9 May 2019 | Published in Economy
The Cook Islands has joined four key copyright treaties with the World Intellectual Property Organisation after handing “instruments of accession” to its director Francis Gurry.
Cooks in disaster-risk study
Thursday 9 May 2019 | Written by Rashneel Kumar | Published in Economy
A team from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is in the country to inspect some residential and commercial properties in an effort to improve disaster risk reduction.
