8 Oct 2020

Cook Islands travel bubble could open next month

From Midday Report, 12:14 pm on 8 October 2020

Quarantine-free travel to the Cook Islands could be a reality for New Zealanders from as early as next month.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown Photo: Phillipa Webb / Cook Islands News

The Cook Islands Prime Minister, Mark Brown, says with New Zealand entirely at Alert Level 1 from today, they will discuss abolishing the 14 day quarantine period for Cook Island citizens and residents returning from Aotearoa, and those with work permits, on Saturday.

And he told Māni Dunlop discussions are well underway with New Zealand officials for a travel bubble, and he's hopeful it could become a reality by the end of November. 

*Note an earlier version of this story, and the audio of this story, stated New Zealanders could be allowed to travel to the Cook Islands without isolating on arrival from as early as next week. This was not correct.