‘Up to Kiwis’ to come to Cooks – PM

The Cook Islands will be ready to accept Kiwi tourists from May 1, with or without New Zealand’s blessing or official two-way quarantine-free travel, the country’s prime minister says.

In an interview during his tour to New Zealand in March, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown said his message is clear – from May 1, the islands will be ready for business, and it is up to Air New Zealand and New Zealanders if they wish to travel.

Air NZ has already started advertising daily flights to Rarotonga from May 10, and the recent trans-Tasman bubble announcement could also provide more travel options to the Pacific nation.

One-way quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands began in January, without mandatory 14-day quarantine on either side.

But travel into the Cook Islands was restricted to citizens, work permit holders and permanent residents, while travel to New Zealand was open to anyone. The only requirement was that travellers shouldn’t have embarked on other international travel 14 days before departure.

Brown said he was working with his government to amend its travel advisory and allow Kiwi tourists in.

‘‘We are open for business on May 1,’’ Brown told TVNZ.

‘‘That’s up to Kiwis if they choose to come to Cook Islands.’’

An Air NZ spokeswoman said Kiwis are free to book available flights to the Cook Islands, but must be aware of quarantine requirements for all journeys. She said current flights are limited, but more will be added once the bilateral agreement is announced.

The airline has already started advertising for daily flights to the Cooks from May

10, ahead of any official travel-bubble announcement.