Local
Open letter stirs up fuel debate
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Local
A long-running feud between two local fuel companies has been stirred up again by an open letter of warning written to the public. Triad Pacific Petroleum and Toa Petroleum are both competing for a contract to store fuel for Crown-owned power authority Te Aponga Uira (TAU), which supplies 90 per cent of the country’s electricity […]
Take the cake
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Local
40 years ago, Mere Macquarie, Tina Manuel, Akaiti Puna and Amene Rangi were among the small group of Air New Zealand employees that welcomed the first Air NZ jet to Rarotonga – the DC8 on December 2 in 1973. While the three women have moved on after long careers with the airline, Amene Rangi is […]
Opposition: Where's the deputy PM?
Tuesday 3 December 2013 | Published in Local
The opposition Democratic Party hit at the Puna government yesterday in parliament for delaying the appointment of a deputy prime minister. The issue was raised by Nikao member of parliament Aunty Mau Munokoa, who said in parliament she was surprised to see infrastructure minister Teariki Heather sitting in the seat previously occupied by former deputy […]
Tax changes poised to begin January 1
Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Local
Working Cook Islanders will be seeing more money on the bottom lines of their paycheques in the New Year as changes to the nation’s tax system become implemented, said finance Minister Mark Brown. Beginning January 1, 2014, cuts to personal income taxes will come into effect, giving a financial boost to workers. Also as part […]
Parliament begins today, without PM
Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Local
The final sitting of the Cook Islands parliament for 2013 begins today. Five days have been set aside for the upcoming session, with possible sitting the following week if needed. Clerk of parliament John Tangi said the final day will be devoted for the conveying of seasons greetings by members of parliament – a traditional […]
Bush fire fuelled by dry grass, trees
Monday 2 December 2013 | Published in Local
A huge bushfire in the tinder dry hills of Amuri on Aitutaki on Saturday night had residents on red alert as neighbours banded together to help fight the fire which threatened a number of homes in the village. The fire was still burning at 2.30pm on Sunday however no homes were being threatened by the […]
Grey Power to march on parliament Monday
Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Local
Pensioner activist group Grey Power is planning to march on parliament on Monday for the first day of the house’s final sitting of 2013. Grey Power vice-president Dennis Tunui made the announcement yesterday, and said the group will be chanting slogans and waving placards as part of the march, which is scheduled for 2.30pm. The […]
Team effort!
Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Local
Jesse Rihari, Kingi Herewini, Tom Robinson and Ruamano Herewini from vaka team Fluffy Slippers, enjoyed a morning of celebration at Nikao Maori School yesterday. The paddling team ‘adopted’ the school last year, and visited the excited young students for a morning of celebration, including exchanging gifts and enjoying dance and haka performances. Related article(s):
Possible release next week for 'Colagate' report
Saturday 30 November 2013 | Published in Local
A second report looking into the practise of invoice splitting by the Cook Islands Audit Office could become a public document next week. Yesterday, director Allen Parker with the Cook Islands Audit Office confirmed the existence of a subsequent report on the practise, which was first dealt with by the audit office in 2011 under […]
Kora brings 'alien funk'
Friday 29 November 2013 | Published in Local
Rarotonga music lovers can expect to have an out of this world experience tonight when New Zealand five-piece band Kora drop a fresh set at the Vaka Eiva ‘paddles up’ party tonight at Avarua harbour. On Rarotonga for the first time, band members (from left) Stu Kora, Richie Allan, Joe Brownless and tour manager Ben […]
BTIB to consider arson loan query
Friday 29 November 2013 | Published in Local
A retrospective loan query from a victim of arson, who saw his business burn to the ground a year ago, will be considered by the Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) following its loan offer to a more recent arson victim. Eric Short, the former owner of Avatiu’s Eric Short Automotive Limited which was razed to […]
'Suspicious' fire investigated
Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Local
A fire alleged to be deliberate and a stolen motorbike were among the incidents that kept the police on their feet over the weekend. “At about 6pm on Friday November 22, a resident of Turangi, Ngatangiia reported of a suspicious fire to their property. It is alleged to have been a deliberate act. As yet […]
Stoddart 'advised on tax-free pension'
Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Local
A New Zealand pensioner says he was advised to transfer his plan to the Cook Islands for tax-free treatment by former Inland Revenue collector Geoff Stoddart. Rarotonga resident Don Reid – who collects the NZ-paid pension after working and paying income taxes in New Zealand for most of his life – said Stoddart provided the […]
High achiever!
Thursday 28 November 2013 | Published in Local
It was a wobbly start on the stilts for young Johahn Strecker (12) at Titikaveka College yesterday where he, along with his Sunshine Coast teammates, were invited to take part in traditional games and taught coconut husking and ei making. As part of the Vaka Eiva ‘adopt a school’ programme, the crew visited the college […]
Gifts galore at trade days
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local
BTIB trade days at the Vaka Eiva festival will get underway at the end of this week, offering up the chance to see the creative processes behind ribbon weaving. Irai Wilkin will be demonstrating her Polynesian ribbon woven art, and is very keen to share her knowledge with anyone who is interested. “Polynesian women are […]
Plaintiffs weigh in on superannuation case
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local
Day three of the superannuation case saw the focus shift to the plaintiffs, who began to present arguments that fund legislation is in line with the Cook Islands constitution. In court, the superannuation fund’s legal team – led by solicitor general Kim Saunders and NZ-based lawyer Mike Ruffin – began presenting arguments for the court […]
Clarke used regularly for tax advice
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local
Prominent businessman Trevor Clarke acted as a regular legal tax advisor for the Inland Revenue collector during a period of nearly four years, court documents reveal. The details were most recently disclosed last week by the Court of Appeal, which issued a judgement on a tax appeal by Tata Crocombe, the managing director and shareholder […]
The thrill of giving
Wednesday 27 November 2013 | Published in Local
Kylie Young (right) and fellow members of the Australian Rogz for Dogz oe vaka team gush over the thank you note made for them by tamariki at Blackrock Apii Potiki to thank the team for their massive donation of books, sports gear and toys. The paddling team visited their adopted school and were the bearer […]
Superannuation scheme unconstitutional - lawyer
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Local
A lawyer is arguing that compensation for superannuation contributions should be guaranteed in a high-profile court case. The Cook Islands High Court saw the second day of the superannuation case yesterday, where lawyer Tim Arnold – representing eight defendants – built on his argument that a lack of guarantee of fund contributions infringes on an […]
Stoddart role with PERC to be reviewed
Tuesday 26 November 2013 | Published in Local
The Crocombe tax case has prompted the minister of finance to look into the involvement of Rarotonga resident Geoff Stoddart with a body dealing with accountability of public servants and spending. Minister Mark Brown’s intention to review Stoddart’s role with Public Expenditure Review Committee (PERC) comes after last week’s court of appeal judgement, which criticised […]
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