Cook Islands to reopen borders

Avarua: The Cook Islands will reopen its borders to Cook Islanders and work permit holders in two weeks, the Prime Minister Henry Puna has announced.

From June 19, Cook Islanders and work permit holders who have been in New Zealand for the past 30 days and want to return home, or take up or resume employment, will be eligible. They will not be required to go into quarantine.

The Cook Islands News reports officials are also working to enable the return of those travelling from outside New Zealand, including work permit holders stranded in Australia and the Philippines.