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POWERBALL RESULTS Goldmine Drawn: 27/2/14 Draw num: 928 PB TATTSLOTTO RESULTS Drawn:1/3/14 Draw num: 3403 Hitachi 1TB USB 3.0 Portable Transcend 1TB USB 3.0 Portable SUPP: Durable ant-shock silicone outer shell Normally Normally OZLOTTO RESULTS $189 $199 Drawn:4/3/14 Draw num: 1046 Next draw: SUPP: save save $24 $20 PB Cook islands Herald 05 March 2014 news 3 NEWS FLASH Taxing of local Pension may be illegal By Charles Pitt t has come to light that the taxing The proposed changes to enable the yet been enacted, has not been explained. of the local pension may be illegal. taxing of the old age pension under Part IX Government has not yet indicated when IThat is because the amendment to of the Act are contained in the “Income Tax the House will sit. the Income Tax Act 1997 has not yet been Amendment Bill.” The Herald understands that if the VAT passed by parliament. This Bill also contains a raft of other changes are not passed in parliament, The Herald has learnt that the Cabinet changes including the change to VAT. government stands to lose some $8 million submission from the Ministry of Finance Where the Ministry of Finance and the in revenue. However, why that should be a seeking Cabinet’s approval to the Ministry of Internal Affairs derive the lawful concern is questionable since government amendments only went to Cabinet last authority to tax the old age pension when already has some $18 million sitting in its week on 19 February. the law enabling this to be done has not reserves account. McCully gaffe on pension tax? By Charles Pitt increase now that a growing an as yet unidentified QC suspected that government id NZ Foreign Minister number of local pensioners based overseas. Does the needed cash to counter a Murray McCully get it are expressing concern NZ government support $1.9 million deficit. D wrong? that their pensions are now these examples of poor During his time in the Cook If the report in last subject to tax after 49 years governance? Those actions Islands it would have made Tuesday’s daily that McCully of being exempt from tax. have been likened by some more sense for McCully to endorses the Cook Islands McCully should also be locals to Gestapo tactics. have devoted some time government’s right to tax the aware that the matter is so The reason for the change in to discussions with the NZ pension, is correct, then contentious that it will be policy was never explained Democratic Party opposition, it is a most inappropriate an election issue. He should –another example of after all, they could very well endorsement from a have noted the huge swing poor governance, but it is be the next government. diplomatic point of view. away from government as As a senior diplomat, the former CIP safe seat SWITCH ON WITH McCully is fully aware the of Murienua went to the NZ government cannot Democratic Party in last be seen to be endorsing week’s by-election. As an Te Aponga Uira another government’s experienced MP McCully What’s in a basic survival kit? internal administration of will sense that the writing its laws and must maintain is clearly on the wall for the a neutral stance. He must Puna government. Endorsing be careful not to allow our the CIP’s unpopular taxation government to draw NZ into policies will not help Puna. the controversy surrounding McCully should also be aware the taxing of those on the that previous Cook Islands NZ pension or allow NZ to governments had for some 17 be seen to be propping up a years adopted a no-tax policy government whose dubious in relation to the NZ pension. policies have made it very Although the existing law unpopular. required tax to be paid, even Minister McCully if he had if a pensioner wanted to pay been fully briefed by his the tax, government refused local office, would be well to accept payment due to the aware that the controversy no –tax policy. surrounding the issue of The current government back taxing the NZ pension ended that policy in 2012 is not going away in a hurry. without any warning or prior He will be aware that Grey notice. This is tantamount Cyclone Kofi passed well away from us this week, Power is seeking legal advice to poor governance. thank goodness! on the issue from a QC in NZ. Government then, without But keep your survival kit handy. With two months While Grey Power numbers any prior warning, raided left in the cyclone season, now is not the time to relax. are small, their influence bank accounts to seize back Be sure you maintain a torch, portable radio and as community elders is tax when the legal right to spare batteries in your survival kit. Keep a first aid kit close by and a supply of tinned foods to last you three extensive and their influence do so was unclear. It was on voting patterns in the next days, along with a can opener and plastic cutlery so unclear that MFEM had and plates. election will be critical. Their to seek an opinion from www.teaponga.com numbers are also likely to Cook islands Herald 05 March 2014 news 4 Super Brown raid a Police set up? Super Brown Store Tupapa he early morning businesses on Rarotonga and him,” stated a friend, “when the Police convinced him raid of Taoro Brown’s Atiu have caused commercial other people are investigated to cooperate because they TTupapa home and 24 jealousy and a concern the Police run off to Crown wanted Brown not him. They hour Super Brown business he is about to extend his Law to get an opinion, so why question the Police charging last Thursday isn’t the first commercial interest in not this time?” of Brown prior to charging time the Police have taken an Aitutaki and Mitiaro. They Earlier before being the provider with the theft investigated interest in him. also say Brown’s political charged on Friday 28 of the cigarettes. “How can Friends of the Atiu Mayor aspirations have got some February Brown claimed the cigarettes be stolen if no claim the recent police upset and made him a target the Police had removed one has been charged with raid was a set up to ensure for discreditably. packages of cigarettes from stealing them? “ Brown would be charged “There are at least two his shop and Police said he The other concern is, will and convicted of something sides to the story and only had fully co-operated with the cigarettes be safe in because of their past failures the Police side and rumours their investigation. Brown Police custody? Evidence to have him charged with a are being heard including had claimed the cigarettes held by Police has in the past criminal offence. he’s going to prison.” were dropped off on the day gone missing. Police claims The Police raid closed the Brown’s relationship with before and was assured by the cigarettes are valued at Super Brown business for over successful business people the provider they were not $13,000 is ridicules seeing four hours while a warranted is also an issue of jealousy as stolen. Brown also claimed they are past their used by search was conducted it is perceived some of them the cigarettes were expired date stated Brown’s friends prompting speculative had funded Brown into his past their used by dates who are encouraging him rumours to be rife around the business ventures, “some and started to think they to sue the Police after he is Island within minutes of the are simply jealous of Taoro’s had been retrieved from the cleared. This incident was highly visible presence of the success but that’s been the rubbish tip. Brown said he engineered to wreck Taoro’s nine police officers. result of a lot of hard work. hadn’t paid for them and was reputation stated his friends While Brown is remaining Taoro’s success has helped too busy to decide what to who are pointing the finger tight lipped after fronting up a lot of people who think do with them. at several business and to Court and being charged highly of him but it has also The speed at which the political individuals that this with receiving stolen goods, made him some envious Police acted after Brown had publication cannot name. friends have plenty to enemies.” received the goods is cause Brown represented by say about Police actions “If the Police were impartial to believe this was a set up lawyer Tina Browne will bordering on harassment and did their investigation insist Brown’s friends. They defend the charge of and victimisation. They properly they wouldn’t have also state the provider is the receiving laid against him. claim Brown’s successful acted hastily in charging Police’s prime witness after - George Pitt PB Cook islands Herald 05 March 2014 NEWS 5 Over 300 pensioners without RMD forms n Saturday 1 March, the Ministry of OInternal Affairs paid 1,054 pensioners on the island of Rarotonga.