Kia Orana! This section features generic and important notices for the GENERAL PUBLIC in the Cook Islands. The notices are from across the COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT and may be regularly updated as information is received by our office. For further information follow the links below or contact us
Ministry of Agriculture - 'Biosecurity Newsletter'
The Ministry of Agriculture has released their 'Biosecurity Newsletter' for 2020, this is a monthly release and for further information please contact the Ministry Headquarters in Arorangi, Rarotonga on Ph: +682 28711 or website
Ministry of Agriculture logo
Te Marae Ora - Ministry of Health Media Release re: CORONAVIRUS
FROM: Dr Josephine Herman, Secretary
DATE: 24 January 2020
SUBJECT: 2019 Novel Coronavirus outbreak in China
Te Marae Ora Cook Islands Ministry of Health wishes to update the public regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) respiratory virus outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. 2019-nCoV is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified and it is now spreading widely across China, parts of Asia, and the rest of the world.
Travel Advisory:
The Cook Islands does not have any travel restrictions regarding 2019-CoV. All arriving passengers will receive written information regarding 2019-nCoV. For those travelling overseas, please take all practical measures to avoid close contact with people with flu-like illnesses, wash your hands regularly, cover your coughs and sneezes, and avoid contact with animals including visiting animal markets.
Te Marae Ora strongly recommends travellers avoid all non-essential and non-urgent travel to cities and areas where 2019-nCoV infection has been reported. Those travelling overseas should also prepare for travel delays on arrival at selected airports as some countries have implemented health screening processes. This may include passenger temperature checks and requests for passengers to complete a symptom questionnaire.
Travellers with signs and symptoms of illness (fever, cough, or difficulty breathing) may be required to undergo additional health assessment...
>>> To read and download the full Media release, click on the link on the right
Picture Credit: Google Search - UpNorthLive.com
Downloadable Resources courtesy of Te Marae Ora - Ministry of Health
MFEM - Revenue Management: Annual PAYE Reconciliation and Tax Certificates
NOTICE TO ALL EMPLOYERS
A friendly reminder that your annual PAYE Reconciliations for 2019 are required to be filed to the Revenue Management Division by Friday 31st January 2020. In addition, all employers must have issued the 2019 RM101 Tax certificates to their employees before/by the 31st January 2020 prior to submitting their PAYE Reconciliation.
As an employer, you are responsible for making deductions from the payments you give to employees(salary/wages). These deductions are then paid to Revenue Management Division each month and accounted for in the end of year PAYE Reconciliation. A copy of each employee’s tax certificate is attached to your PAYE Reconciliation for the year and the other is given to the employee themselves for their own Individual Tax returns.
Each employee is responsible for the completion and filing of their Individual Income Tax return once they have received their certificates.
PAYE Reconciliations can be done manually and submitted directly to Revenue Management Division or filed through our E-Tax online website
E-Tax Online Website:
Online banking details: http://bit.ly/32qjVwn
For more information or assistance please call us on 29365 or email tax.info@cookislands.gov.ck
MFEM - Customs: Notice to all declarants
Due to a large number of recurring entry errors being observed and managed by Customs, with effect Monday 3rd February 2020, the Cook Islands Customs Service intends to commence imposing Administrative Penalties pursuant to section 160 of the Customs Revenue and Border Protection Act 2012.
Administrative Penalties will apply to every entry (or amendment to entry) required under this Act and includes every supporting document or declaration required to be made or produced by every person making the entry.
An Administrative penalty will apply when:
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an amount of duty payable under the Act has not (or will not) been paid or declared for payment
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the entry is otherwise materially incorrect
Notice of such a penalty will be given in writing to the person who made the entry. That person has 20 working days from the notice date, to satisfy the Comptroller that the person is entitled to be exempted from such a penalty.
The penalties that will apply and as stated in the Act are:
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Where an amount of duty payable under the Act has not (or will not) been paid or declared for payment, the penalty is $100.00 or an amount equal to 20% of the duty unpaid or not declared up to a maximum of $5000.00
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Where the entry is otherwise materially incorrect, the penalty is $100.00 for each entry.
Public Service Induction Training Schedule 2020
To register, phone +68229421 or email Teresa Tararo,
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management - Te Mato Vai Proposal
Ministry of Agriculture - Travelling Passengers Information
Ministry of Finance & Economic Management (MFEM): Grant Funding Opportunity - UNDP Ocean Innovation Challenge
Calling all those working in the ocean conservation space in the Cook Islands
UNDP has launched a new call to action - the Ocean Innovation Challenge to accelerate progress on #SDG14 - Life Below Water targets.
The Ocean Innovation Challenge (OIC) is a unique new mechanism that has been designed to accelerate progress on SDG14 by the identifying, financing, advising and mentoring of truly innovative, entrepreneurial and creative approaches to ocean and coastal restoration and protect that sustains livelihoods and advances the ‘blue economy’. The OIC seeks innovations that are transferrable, replicable and scalable in order to achieve maximum catalytic impact.
Submissions for proposals close 5th March 2020