Local
No figure for mission cost
Friday 15 July 2011 | Published in Local
NZ foreign minister Murray McCully revealed yesterday that a number of people in his 75-strong delegation paid their own way to Tonga, Samoa, Rarotonga and Niue. CINews asked McCully about the cost of the Pacific Mission. He said he could not provide a figure as the cost is usually totalled after the mission is complete […]
Pacific mission descends on Rarotonga
Friday 15 July 2011 | Published in Local
Rarotonga welcomed a delegation of 75 ministers, members of parliament, businesspeople and bureaucrats from New Zealand yesterday. Among the delegation were NZ foreign minister Murray McCully, rugby hall of famer Jonah Lomu, Rugby World Cup chief executive Martin Snedden, New Zealand MPs John Hayes and Sua William Sio and incoming New Zealand High Commissioner John […]
Sheraton update
Thursday 14 July 2011 | Published in Local
An update on development of the Sheraton site in Vaimaanga will be disclosed later this month, infrastructure minister Teariki Heather says. He was asked in parliament yesterday where the project to refurbish the abandoned hotel is at. Deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen posed the question, saying he has recently seen the land owner in Rarotonga. […]
Govt figures overstated: bankers
Thursday 14 July 2011 | Published in Local
The Cook Islands Bankers Association has raised doubts over the $1 million profit the Cook Islands government forecast it would gain through the new tax on interest. In a statement provided to Cook Islands News yesterday, the association said the government significantly overstated expectations of earning an extra $1 million through the new withholding tax. […]
Controversial tax now law
Thursday 14 July 2011 | Published in Local
Despite criticism from opposition party members and the wider public, the governments controversial last minute attempt to balance its books has passed into law. Towards the end of a parliamentary session yesterday afternoon the Income Tax Amendment Bill was considered and adopted without change. Although some members of the opposition, including Nikao Panama MP Ngamau […]
Tax figures right despite claims
Wednesday 13 July 2011 | Published in Local
Despite a level of error in statistics on which the government estimates its revenue from a new withholding tax, finance minister Mark Brown says the 2011-2012 budget is fiscally responsible and balanced. Questions were raised in parliament yesterday on the basis that Brown had received the wrong advice from the Ministry of Finance and Economic […]
Mock crash important test for real thing
Wednesday 13 July 2011 | Published in Local
It was all hands on deck for emergency response personnel yesterday who attended a head-on collision on the main road in Maraerenga. Although the car crash in front of Bamboo Jacks was just a set-up, it was an important exercise to improve both the response time of emergency personnel and the coordinated efforts by emergency […]
Budget passed without changes
Wednesday 13 July 2011 | Published in Local
Parliament has unanimously adopted without amendment the governments 2011-2012 budget, tabled on July 1. Government now has the ability to spend $172 million in the next 12 months as planned. Members of parliament approved the bulk of appropriations during an afternoon session yesterday. Debate about the appropriation bill began last week. By 4pm yesterday, with […]
Plea to rethink
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islands Workers Association president Anthony Turua has offered a plea to the government on behalf of working Cook Islanders, to reconsider the new withholding tax which is another blow for workers. Turua asked the government to look at different options to its financial problems which would not impact on the lives of the average […]
Meetings to listen, not preach
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Local
The government is holding three meetings this week to include Cook Islanders in discussions about the proposed marine park and the process of establishing it. Sue Taei, marine programme director at Conservation International, and SPREP marine and coastal adviser Tim Carruthers will make presentations at each meeting, and will be on hand to address any […]
Hanging on for Eels win
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Local
Seven-year-old Kaienua Pera was snapped hanging out at the Avatiu field cheering on the Avatiu Eels rugby club grades.The Apii Nikao Maori student spent all afternoon at the field playing with friends and cheering on his big brother 17-year-old Zeru Pera. Matariki Wilson
Budget approval begins
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Local
Parliament has started approving the governments 2011-2012 ministry appropriations. After debating for hours on the agriculture appropriation of $945,451 members approved it yesterday afternoon. The approval of appropria tions for audit/PERCA ($814,046), Crown Law ($654,197), and cultural development ($1,712,705) followed soon after. Little debate was generated by those allocations. Deputy opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen said […]
Police advise private security
Tuesday 12 July 2011 | Published in Local
As burglaries and thefts continue to rise, Cook Islands Police are suggesting tourist accommodators employ private security workers. After police received reports of six burglaries and two thefts over the weekend, they have repeated warnings that people must be vigilant in looking after their valuables. Police inspector Tere Patia has encouraged tourist accommodations to consider […]
CI workers lazy
Monday 11 July 2011 | Published in Local
Cook Islanders are lazy compared to foreign workers, opposition leader Robert Wigmore says. He spoke in parliament on July 8 opposing comments made by other members of parliament that the reason foreign workers are favoured here is because they demand lower wages. I pay my imported workers according to the wages established. Wigmore says he […]
$5500 for diabetes patients
Monday 11 July 2011 | Published in Local
The Ministry of Health has received $5500 worth of insulin and equipment to help local patients control and manage diabetes. The medicine and medical equipment were donated by Insulin for Life (IFL) an Australian organisation dedicated to reaching out to poor patients in developing countries by providing and supporting a sustainable, equitable and accessible provision […]
New ship for CI
Monday 11 July 2011 | Published in Local
Reef Shipping has bought a larger cargo vessel in conjunction with Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC) executive chairman Trevor Clarke. Prime Minister Henry Puna announced the news in parliament on Friday. Puna said he was told about the purchase on Thursday evening. Because we the Cook Islands are doing our part to deepen and extend […]
Home for at-risk youth planned
Monday 11 July 2011 | Published in Local
A group of concerned young people is determined to arrest burglary in the Cook Islands by building a home for at-risk youth. About a month ago, Ashley Wichman and some of her friends decided theyd had enough of reading in the papers about young Cook Islanders breaking into homes and stealing from tourists. They promptly […]
Pot proposal
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in Local
MP Taunga Toka suggested in Parliament on Thursday that Rakahanga should consider growing Indian hemp and poppies as a means to kick-start its economy. In Cook Islands Maori he asked the government to consider Rakahangas agricultural potential seriously, as its pearl industry no longer exists. I do hope that government will look at agriculture seriously, […]
Village people at special market day
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in Local
Alexsandra and Vicki Ngarua with their aunty Nanny Kaiou had fun at their musical instrument stall in downtown Avarua yesterday. Twenty-six stalls were set up by Takuvaine-Tutakimoa village people as a money-making exercise for the community.Report, Mondays CINews. 11070810
New tax could be temporary
Saturday 9 July 2011 | Published in Local
The proposed 15 percent tax on interest is temporary and may be scrapped in two years, finance minister Mark Brown says. In a speech to parliament yesterday, Brown said the proposed withholding tax may not be necessary once the debts it is being proposed for have cleared. Brown told Cook Islands News cabinet members made […]
« Previous 1 … 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 … 715 Next »