Cook Islands

The Cook Islands government has created an advisory committee to provide community perspectives on the controversial issue of seabed mining. The government said it had brought together six people representing religious, cultural, environmental, sporting, youth and academic viewpoints. They full committee is Bishop Tutai Pere, Makiuti Tongia, Sam Napa, Makiroa Mitchell, George George Williamson and Maru Mariri.

The Cook Islands parliament is sitting to elect a new prime minister, as Henry Puna stands down after a decade in the job. His deputy and preferred successor, Mark Brown, is likely to be voted in at a vote of confidence this afternoon. Parliament's public gallery is packed out with flowers and supporters of Mr Puna and Mr Brown. Puna has resigned from the job to contest for the role of Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum.

The island of Mangaia in the Cook Islands came to a standstill yesterday for the coronation of its new king. Tangi Tereapii was installed Numangatini Ariki at a packed ceremony and feast at Te Maruata-Nui-o-Numangatini Marae. The Cook Islands News reports the celebration was attended by the whole island, as well as dignitaries from Rarotonga, Aitutaki and Atiu.

The Cook Islands has tightened its borders after the confirmation of new coronavirus cases in New Zealand. People arriving on Friday's flight from Auckland will have to be tested before they leave, and will go straight into supervised quarantine when they arrive in Rarotonga. The Cabinet met this morning to discuss the new cases in New Zealand and the steps that would be taken to protect the Cook Islands.

New Zealand's prime minister says a travel bubble with the Cook Islands could be open before the end of the year, but has refused to be drawn to a firm timeline. Cabinet this morning considered a draft text of an agreement being worked on by both governments. Jacinda Ardern said she hoped officials would be able to start work on the ground in both countries to prepare for quarantine-free travel.

About five Cook Islands families were driven from their homes by flooding this week, during a downpour that brought a month's worth of rain to Rarotonga. The Metservice measured 121 mm of rain during the deluge on Wednesday night, six more than the island's monthly average. Inspector John Strickland from the Cook Islands police said flood waters over a metre deep were recorded in residential areas close to the islands main town, Avarua.

By Jonathan Milne of Cook Islands News The Cook Islands and New Zealand governments have again delayed announcing details of an air-bridge between the two countries. The New Zealand Cabinet was understood to be discussing plans today for the first relaxation of the borders of New Zealand and Cook Islands, expected in a matter of weeks.

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.

The Cook Islands' deputy prime minister says losing its developed country status needs to happen quickly. Its status was changed earlier this year by the OECD, a graduation which restricts access to funds from the likes of the World Bank. That change was off the back of phenomenal growth in tourism, an industry which has disappeared because of Covid-19. Mark Brown, who is also the finance minister, said the OECD's criteria is based on a country's income.

The Cook Islands has been declared free of Covid-19, allowing churches to reopen this weekend. Starting last night's address to the nation, Prime Minister Henry Puna thanked God for giving people courage and strength during the country's greatest threat in modern history. He said hundreds of Covid-19 tests taken in the Cook Islands had come back negative, and the country can officially be confirmed as a Covid-free zone - one of the first nations in the world to do so.