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Articles by Emmanuel Samoglou
Cooks to continue support of U.N. seabed mining process
Friday 2 July 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Environment, National
Cook Islands will continue to support the work of the International Seabed Authority in developing global seabed mining regulations, and the country will continue to follow its own process at its own pace.
Economic recovery receives ADB support
Friday 25 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
A two-week in-country Asian Development Bank mission to strengthen the economic recover from Covid-19 concluded this month.
Passengers offloaded ‘in error’
Friday 25 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Health, National
Te Marae Ora Ministry of Health has apologised to passengers who were off loaded in error on an Air New Zealand flight to Rarotonga Wednesday.
TMO takes action after Wellington Covid-19 scare
Thursday 24 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
Health ministry staff carried out a flash contact tracing and testing drive beginning Tuesday night through yesterday following the case of an Australian tourist who visited Wellington and later tested positive for Covid-19.
Bubble remains inflated
Wednesday 23 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
In a late night cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Government made the decision to keep quarantine-free travel in place with New Zealand while local officials continue to monitor the situation in Wellington after a Covid-19 positive tourist from Australia visited the NZ capital.
Bubble brings nearly 1500 tourists in first two weeks
Tuesday 22 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Tourism, the nation’s leading economic contributor, got off to a humble start last month with 1486 visitors, which on a daily basis breaks down to just under a quarter of arrival figures seen during May 2019 – the last non-pandemic year.
Government on quest to reduce interest rates
Saturday 19 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
A pillar of the Government’s Covid-19 economic recovery plan is to reduce interest rates that have long been a burden to households and businesses. Will the banks be willing to be part of the solution?
Bubble brings back New Zealand volunteers
Friday 18 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
For years Kiwi volunteers have been donating their time to work with public service organisations and local NGOs. Covid-19 put a temporary halt to that, but with the bubble in place volunteers are slowly beginning to return.
LETTER: Putting all the eggs in one basket
Thursday 17 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Kata, Opinion
Letters for June 17, 2021
Raising safe internet surfing awareness
Thursday 17 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in National, Technology
From cryptocurrency pyramid schemes to social media scams, Cook Islands residents face a constant stream of online hazards, but a new web-based resource aims to get the upper hand against the thieves and crooks who prey on the unsuspected.
Tourism focus turns to Australia
Saturday 12 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
In place for four weeks, the Cook Islands-New Zealand bubble is bringing in more visitors than tourism stakeholders had projected. Looking ahead, the industry and government are now looking to capitalise on that success by laying out the rationale for opening the country to Australians.
Cash set aside for Air NZ subsidised Los Angeles, Australia routes
Friday 11 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Amidst an environment of continued uncertainty, the Government is still banking on a positive trajectory in the handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the possible opening of tourism to additional markets.
Businesses eye layoffs with end to government support
Wednesday 9 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
The Chamber of Commerce reacted to yesterday’s unveiling of the budget with a warning that businesses could be forced to lay off workers in the absence of government financial support for vulnerable companies.
Government attempts to emerge from pandemic with 'Budget of Revival'
Wednesday 9 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy, National
Describing its revenue forecast for the coming 12 months as conservative, government is predicting a nearly 9 per cent increase in gross domestic product to drive spending in areas such as health, education, and infrastructure.
The challenges of drafting legislation in microstates
Saturday 5 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Features, In Depth
A decade ago, the powers that be decided the Cook Islands needed updated companies legislation and a digital registry of companies allowed to do business in the country. It was a ‘smart government’ initiative, where services offered by the state are efficient, cost-effective, and allow people to avoid the agony of long queues. But sometimes the best of intentions can lead to unintended consequences.
Efforts continue to recoup millions from Chinese firm
Thursday 3 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
As the governments of the Cook Islands, New Zealand, and China prepare to hold a bi-annual meeting later this month to discuss the Te Mato Vai water infrastructure project, the government continues its efforts to resolve a lingering dispute concerning allegations of shoddy construction work with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) - one of the project's main contractors.
New bill won’t “discriminate”, government says
Wednesday 2 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
Same sex rights groups are expressing guarded optimism after Government disclosed that work is underway to ensure new criminal legislation will not contain clauses that discriminate against any Cook Islander or resident.
Further wait for same sex rights advocates
Tuesday 1 June 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Local, National
Observers have voiced exasperation over Parliament’s delaying tactics in moving forward with a draft bill that, if passed in its current form, would decriminalise homosexuality in the Cook Islands.
Victoria outbreak poses little risk to Cooks, government says
Saturday 29 May 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Health, National
Local health officials say the growing Covid-19 outbreak in Victoria poses little threat to the Cook Islands, but as a precautionary measure extra screening procedures will be in place for upcoming flights.
Chamber seeks further cash support for private sector
Friday 28 May 2021 | Written by Emmanuel Samoglou | Published in Economy
The government has signalled current Covid-19 financial support measures are set to wind down at the end of June, but the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce believes a number of businesses will require some form of support beyond that date.