Local
Surplus now, deficit next year
Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Local
After initially projecting a $2.1 million deficit, government has managed to balance its books. Accordingly, the Budget reflects a surplus of about $98,000 for the new financial year. The combined effect of the increased departure tax in the 2013-2014 financial year, the increase of import levies on tobacco, alcohol and fizzy drinks, and the 15 […]
Brown upbeat in blue
Friday 8 June 2012 | Published in Local
Finance Minister Mark Brown wore a blue tie yesterday. It was a strategic wardrobe choice, one he said was symbolic of a surplus budget. ”If it were a deficit I would’ve worn a red tie,“ he told media, smiling. Brown applauded the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management (MFEM), financial secretary Richard Neves and his […]
Fizzy drinks, alcohol going up
Thursday 7 June 2012 | Published in Local
Government is increasing levies on sweetened drinks and alcohol. The forthcoming Budget, due to be tabled this afternoon in Parliament, reflects a 15 percent increase on sweetened drinks and alcoholic drinks, though levies on low-alcohol beers will rise by just 5 percent. Such increases will be effectual from August 1. Minister of Finance Mark Brown […]
Drumming up ticket sales for Miss Cook Islands
Thursday 7 June 2012 | Published in Local
Miss Cook Islands tickets for tonight’s pageant were selling fast yesterday thanks to the beautiful Maine Tapairu Joyana Meyer, Pai Chambers and Maine Kuki Airani Engara Gosselin. If you missed out on buying tickets from the lovely ladies yesterday – they are still for sale at the Tatslotto shop in Avarua and at the Pearl […]
Toa tanks run dry
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Local
Toa Petroleum has run out of fuel. Company director Brett Porter is currently in Auckland, but confirmed via email that Toa has no petrol on account of shipping irregularities and expects its next supply to arrive on June 16. ”The Southern Express was originally scheduled to arrive on the third of this month. Our fuel […]
Co-operation with China promoted
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Local
Minister of health Nandi Glassie met with Chinese Ambassador Xu Jianguao in Wellington last week to discuss possible future co-operation in the health sector. Glassie, who has just returned from the World Health Organisation (WHO) General Assembly in Geneva, was following up earlier discussions on possible co-operation with China in the health sector. ”The Cook […]
French Navy vessel visits Rarotonga
Wednesday 6 June 2012 | Published in Local
A French naval vessel is due in Rarotonga today on its first voyage to the Cook Islands. The ship, named L’Arago, replaced an older French vessel in Tahiti last year. L’Arago arrives at Avatiu wharf at 8 o’clock this morning, and will stay in port until Sunday afternoon. According to French honorary consul Nathalie Rossette-Cazel […]
Visitor numbers up 6% for April
Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Published in Local
Asian tourists are coming to the Cook Islands in increasing numbers, with the group spearheading an increase in visitor figures for April 2012. The number of Asians coming to Rarotonga in April is up by 40 percent compared to the same month last year, with the statistics office recording 56 inbound tourists compared to 40 […]
Police vehicle in crash
Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Published in Local
A police crash investigation team is looking into the cause of a collision on Saturday morning between a police vehicle carrying three police officers and a parked car. Police report that at 4.23am on Saturday, a mobile police patrol which included three officers crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle on the main road at Kavera. […]
Murray's monster wedding present!
Tuesday 5 June 2012 | Published in Local
Despite weighting in at 262kg – the monster blue marlin caught aboard Akura yesterday didn’t win the Queen’s Birthday Weekend fishing competition – one especially for tuna. Not that it bothered the charter crew or their ecstatic anglers from New Zealand who were beaming after hauling in the monster. Kiwi angler Murray Broughton thought the […]
Pension increases
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Local
The forthcoming Budget makes provision for an increase in the old-age pension for Cook Islands residents over 70. Minister of Finance Mark Brown yesterday announced the budgetary measure, which puts the pension up by $50 per month for this year. In subsequent years, he said, the government will phase in further increases in order to […]
Finance minister opens up the Budget
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Local
In an unprecedented effort to be more transparent about all things Budget, finance minister Mark Brown has devised a schedule according to which he will make one announcement per day before tabling the Budget on June 7. On Wednesday Brown released a general overview of the Capital Book, which earmarks funding for infrastructure and maintenance […]
New group confronts domestic violence
Saturday 2 June 2012 | Published in Local
Domestic violence is too often kept a shameful secret – but a new group in Arorangi is sweeping domestic violence out into the open and making it the whole community’s problem. Ru Taki Vaine Tini – meaning women’s organisation in the community – is now running eight nights of workshops for people in their community […]
Samoa's 50th celebrations
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in Local
The local Samoan community will be hoisting a Samoan flag this morning to honour 50 years of Samoan independence. Members of the community and ”friends of Samoa“ have been invited to Navy Epati’s Matavera residence at 6.30am, ahead of a 7am flag raising ceremony. Guests will then share a breakfast in honour of the momentous […]
Tobacco tax going up 33%
Friday 1 June 2012 | Published in Local
In honour of worldwide No Tobacco Day, government yesterday gave media a sneak preview of a related measure outlined in the forthcoming Budget. As acting minister of health (in Nandi Glassie’s absence), finance minister Mark Brown revealed that government will be increasing import levies on cigarettes and tobacco by 33 percent annually over the next […]
Finance minister reveals Budget sums
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in Local
Media welcomed Finance Minister Mark Brown’s plan to keep the public informed of the nuts and bolts of the forthcoming Budget ahead of its formal presentation next week. Brown will table the Budget and give a complementary speech on June 7 in Parliament. On the same day media will be welcome to study the Budget […]
Youthline launched nationwide
Thursday 31 May 2012 | Published in Local
A free telephone counselling helpline for Cook Islands youth was launched yesterday to a packed stadium full of Tereora College students. The Youth Helpline Cook Islands – 0800HELP – is run by Youthline New Zealand and is a free and confidential support network that troubled youth can ring for advice. The need for such a […]
Cargo restricted
Wednesday 30 May 2012 | Published in Local
Reef Shipping has advised its customers to expect delays from now through to the end of July. It cannot introduce its newer, faster ship Southern Reef until the harbour redevelopment is complete, and until then its carrying capacity is limited. Reef Express voyage 157, which is scheduled to arrive in Rarotonga on June 13 and […]
Drug shortage not because of funding
Wednesday 30 May 2012 | Published in Local
Rarotonga Hospital does have the funds to buy drugs and solve the shortage of drugs. It is at the mercy of pharmaceutical suppliers in New Zealand or the Netherlands to get drugs here when needed, and a batch purchased over a month ago has yet to be delivered. Senior hospital physician Dr Zaw Aung says […]
0800HELP going live today
Wednesday 30 May 2012 | Published in Local
Help is at hand for struggling Cook Islands youth – a free telephone youth helpline is being launched today. The helpline – 0800HELP – is run by Youthline New Zealand and is a free and confidential support network that troubled youth can ring for advice. Youthline will be launched today at 9 am at the […]
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