Cook Islands Prime Minister expects New Zealand travel bubble in a few weeks

By RNZ

The Cook Islands could lift quarantine restrictions for people traveling from New Zealand next week.

Prime Minister Mark Brown said the cabinet would meet on Saturday to discuss changing the restrictions.

Currently, only Cook Islands residents and permit holders can enter the country, and they must undergo a two-week quarantine.

Brown said that now that Auckland joins the rest of New Zealand at Alert Level 1, things looked promising from his perspective.

“We are reconsidering our position here,” he said. “We will be able to make a decision on when we can resume free quarantine travel on Friday at our time (Saturday NZT).”

But that doesn’t mean a resumption of tourism just yet.

The talks were well on track for a travel bubble between the two countries in July, but the recent coronavirus outbreak in Auckland caused it to burst.

But with that outbreak seemingly contained, Brown and her New Zealand counterpart Jacinda Ardern have said those talks have resumed.

Brown said things had progressed well and there were only a few finer points left to work out, which he hoped would only take a few weeks.

Those points included protocols for maritime borders and shipping, customs clearance, and how passengers to and from the Cook Islands would be separated from one another.

“Once this is done, both governments should be in a position to announce a date,” he said.

“I am hopeful that December is a possible schedule, if we can get the arrangements earlier that would be an advantage.”

Brown said there was significant demand, both from New Zealanders who wanted a Cook Islands vacation and from islanders who wanted access to health care and family, among other reasons.

He said the Cook Islands would likely maintain the need for all passengers to provide a negative Covid test and temperature scan at airports.

Conversations with Australia

Mark Brown said he was excited by Australia’s announcement that New Zealanders could travel to New South Wales and the Northern Territory without the need for quarantine.

Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens and carry New Zealand passports, and Brown said Cook Islanders would also be eligible for that entry.

“This can only advance the discussions we are currently having,” he said. “I hope to have some discussions with Australia … about the possibility of traveling to Australia as well.”

“It only takes a small amount of kiwis to come to the Cook Islands and make a big difference in our tourism industry.”

– RNZ