Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna. Photo/Supplied
Some welcome news for Cook Island residents stuck in New Zealand since lockdown, from June 19 they will be able to return home. Tourism operators in the pacific nation are hopeful the move is a step toward the country opening its borders to New Zealanders.
In two weeks, the Cook Islands will reopen its borders for Cook Islanders and work permit residents to return home.
That was the announcement of Prime Minister Henry Puna on Thursday night in his address to the nation.
“I am very pleased to announce that on June 19 and onwards that the government will open our border to Cook Islanders and work permit residents who have been present in NZ for at least 30 days prior, and whose main purpose of travel is to return home or to take up or resume employment,” says Prime Minister Puna.
With no new Covid cases reported in Aotearoa for a few weeks now, the government is easing its restrictions.
However, those who qualify will be required to undergo the exit screening process at Auckland airport but there will be no entry restrictions on arrival in Rarotonga.
“The flights arriving at Rarotonga international airport will be open to the above travellers, without the need for supervised quarantine upon arrival here, at home,” says Puna.
Needless to say, this is good news for locals.
Chantal Napa (Ngāti Porou ki Harataunga, Puaikura Vaka) says “E mataora te ngākau kia oki mai koutou ki te kāinga.”
“So it does please me and I’m sure it would please a lot of i a mātou no’o ora, te nguteare aere, which is houses that are empty at the moment, family missing family and so yeah that is really, really good news,” she says.
“We’d like to welcome them all back home,” says Dion Teau (Ngāti Maniapoto, Mangaia, Aitutaki).
“It’s just fortunate that they don’t have to go through the two weeks quarantine like some of us have but they’ve just come at the right time.”
The prime minister's office says when the borders are open to New Zealand, Te Marae Ora are medically prepared and it is expected that tourists will also not have to undergo a 14-day supervised quarantine period on arrival.
Despite phase 2 of the government's $76 million economic response plan set to roll out on 1 July, the economy and businesses alike need tourists to return.