Cooks, NZ flights to ‘be confirmed next week’

Avarua: The Cook Islands government expects to confirm a “travel bridge” with New Zealand in the next week.

The concept would allow people to travel between the two countries freely, and follows a meeting between Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her counterpart Henry Puna last night.

Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown says there’s a desperate need for tourism in the country.

“We are COVID-19 free.

“New Zealand is in level one with no community transmission. So we are quite happy to see the establishment of a new travel bridge,” Mr Brown said.

No date has been set for the planned resumption of flights between the two countries.