National
Imports warning
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Expected growth in tourism is likely to increase demand for fresh produce, thereby giving the agriculture industry a boost. The Budget warns that if the agriculture industry does not propel itself forward, produce imports will continue to grow. ”If concentrated efforts are not made to increase domestic supply, reliance on imported produce will continue to […]
Loan fund for change?
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Government is considering widening the scope of its Crown loan reserve trust fund. The Budget says government is pursuing its options to legislate the Crown Law Reserve Trust Fund during this fiscal year, so that the funds it contains can be applied toward all loans and not just those taken out by SOEs. The idea […]
Govt expects $13.77m in fees
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
The government expects to collect $13.77 million in administrative fees for this financial year. Budget Book 1 outlines its expected takings, a figure which includes departure tax fees as the International Monetary Fund categorises departure tax not as a tax but as a levy on airline passengers. This year government expects to receive $6.5 million […]
PM praises Budget 'transparency'
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Prime Minister Henry Puna spoke for close to an hour in Parliament yesterday, covering a range of issues, from suicide to Budget 2012. He addressed his constituency, the people of Manihiki, advising them that government has made it a point to maintain the level of funding available for the pa enua. He said government feels […]
Four NZ navy ships in Cooks
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Four of the 12 Royal New Zealand Navy vessels are in the Cooks over the coming week. The HMNZS Canterbury, which is anchored off Avarua Harbour until Saturday morning, will be supporting patrol efforts around the region and reporting on its findings. Canterbury’s captain Commander Sean Stewart says they are part of a planning contingency […]
HMNZS Canterbury here to support maritime patrols
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
New Zealand naval vessel HMNZS Canterbury is in the Cooks until Saturday morning, when it will head to Tonga. Commander Sean Stewart says they are here supporting patrol efforts around the region. The Canterbury, at 131 metres long, is too big to fit into the Avarua Harbour. She has a crew of 130, of which […]
New x-ray unit for pets
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Diagnosing problems with local pets has become a whole lot easier at the island’s only animal clinic thanks to the generous donation of an x-ray machine. The Esther Honey Foundation animal clinic in Nikao received an x-ray machine last week sponsored by the Barton family and The Bond Store. And in its short time on […]
Work about to start on new jetty
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
The Cook Islands is set to become a more frequent stopover destination for visiting cruise ships, with funding confirmed for the construction of the alternative ocean access jetty at Arorangi. The $2 million project to build the new jetty will be funded by the New Zealand/Australia Harmonised Aid Programme. New Zealand High Commissioner John Carter […]
Pa enua funding 'a waste'
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Oneroa MP Winton Pickering commends the government for maintaining the appropriation levels for the pa enua, but says it was the ”wrong move“. ”I encourage government in terms of support for the outer islands (but) I can see from this Budget there is a substantial amount of money that this government is going to throw […]
Demo caucus budget boycott 'disappointing'
Friday 15 June 2012 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown says it is ”disappointing“ that the Opposition chose to boycott a presentation his team hosted for members of Parliament last week to explain the nuts and bolts of the Budget. ”As I read in the newspaper the words of the leader of the Opposition that ‘we will deliberately boycott this presentation […]
Shark finning alleged
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in Environment
In Parliament Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked marine resources minister Teina Bishop to comment on allegations that vessels licensed under the exploratory programme are finning sharks illegally. ”Is the minister aware that under the exploratory licences scheme or regime…people who are fishing in our waters, particularly Asian fishermen fishing in our waters, are finning sharks?“ […]
NZ warship HMNZS Canterbury visits Cook Islands
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in Local
New Zealand naval vessel HMNZS Canterbury (right) arrived at Rarotonga yesterday and was anchored off Avarua last night. The ship may be used to transport fuel to the Northern Group, but this could not be confirmed by maritime police. The multi-role vessel of the Royal New Zealand navy was commissioned in 2007 and cost $130 […]
New shipping venture
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in Local
Some local importers are still pushing hard to source a new international shipping vessel for servicing the Cook Islands’ needs, and Minister of Transport Tom Marsters believes they will succeed. Yesterday in Parliament Mangaia MP Winton Pickering asked Marsters to confirm whether Pacific Direct Line (PDL) was being allocated a third shipping licence. At present […]
HIV Bill in first stages
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
A human rights based HIV Bill has been drafted for the Cook Islands by the United Nations Development Programme, and is now in its first stage of consultations. The HIV Care and Support Bill was officially handed over last week to the National HIV, STI, and TB committee (NHSTC) and Ministry of Health by the […]
Congrats to Speaker
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Each Parliamentarian that rose to debate about the strengths and weaknesses of Budget 2012 yesterday started his speech with a message of congratulations. The congratulations were extended to Speaker of the House, Niki Rattle, who was absent from Parliament on Monday and Tuesday because she was with her daughter Josephine, who was giving birth to […]
Govt urged to licence PDL
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Oneroa MP Winton Pickering has urged government to issue Pacific Direct Line a licence to operate a shipping service to and from the Cook Islands. In Parliament he raised the issue of the company’s request for a shipping licence, and asked government whether it was considering granting it. He said that while he does not […]
Call to cut taxes
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Rakahanga MP Taunga Toka has urged government to reduce its tax rates. ”We are also increasing taxes right left and centre – we shouldn’t be trying to encourage our people (to leave) overseas,“ he said. ”Because in the past it was the monarch who imposed taxes in England, in Great Britain, in Russia and it […]
No tax windfall says Brown
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Finance minister Mark Brown has denied rumours that the government has made a $2 million windfall from the withholding tax in the last several days. Atiu MP Norman George asked Brown yesterday to confirm whether he had been advised – formally or informally – of the windfall. Brown said he had ”yet to receive any […]
Fuel going by naval vessel
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Cabinet minister Teariki Heather rose yesterday in Parliament to correct a statement he had made the day prior. ”I rise to correct some anomaly in my reply to the question raised by the leader of the Opposition yesterday,“ he said. ”This is in regards to the boat that is bringing diesel and landing it in […]
Barge back for Mauke, Mitiaro projects
Thursday 14 June 2012 | Published in National
Work on the development of the Mauke harbour is nearing completion with a handover of the project expected to be carried out in about three weeks. Yesterday, another barge load of material and equipment for the harbour development projects on Mauke and Mitiaro arrived at Avatiu harbour. The Mycon barge, towed by the Viking Spirit […]
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