Travel Bubble to Cooks

Forums › Travel (planes, train, cruise) › Travel Bubble to Cooks

xlinknz

1141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 168

Trusted

#272189 13-Jun-2020 20:38

We're keen on a Winter Holiday in the tropics asap

The Cooks is the obvious initial candidate for an Intl travel bubble without quarantine and BEFORE Australia because:

They have NO cases of Covid-19 and as far as I know never did
They are all NZ Citizens, use the NZ currency in short effectively part of NZ
Furthermore control is easy since essentially the only connection is AKL to Raratonga (or could be restricted to that) so risk of importing infection is far less than Australia

It is almost a no brainer yet our govt seems to be reluctant. These articles discuss the topic

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/travel/2020/06/no-cook-islands-new-zealand-travel-bubble-for-now-prime-minister-says-but-talks-ongoing.html

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/300031951/covid19-cook-islands-plea-to-nz-we-are-family-family-support-each-other

What am I missing on why our Govt doesn't make it occur?

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ... | 9

6028 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 461

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#2504302 13-Jun-2020 20:38

Allow me to introduce you folks to our new travel community: TravelTalk NZ.

We hope to see you there!

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

Referral links: Quic Broadband (free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE) | Samsung | AliExpress | Wise | Sharesies

Support Geekzone by subscribing (browse ads-free), or making a one-off or recurring donation through PressPatron.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#2504316 13-Jun-2020 21:45

I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of research into the issue other than those stories?

The issue at present is not NZ - there are no restrictions on NZers leaving the country (unlike some countries like Australia who have imposed such rules). The issue right now is that the Cook Islands won't let anybody else in.

https://covid19.gov.ck/?v=1591923498387

Even under their new rules from the 19th they will allow residents back, but NZers wanting to simply visit are not permitted.

Obviously NZ would need a bubble type arrangement to remove the 14 day quarantine on return, but until the Cook Islands are willing to enter into such an arrangement nothing will happen quickly.

xlinknz

1141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 168

Trusted

#2504318 13-Jun-2020 22:00

sbiddle: I'm guessing you haven't done a lot of research into the issue other than those stories?

The issue at present is not NZ - there are no restrictions on NZers leaving the country (unlike some countries like Australia who have imposed such rules). The issue right now is that the Cook Islands won't let anybody else in.

https://covid19.gov.ck/?v=1591923498387

Even under their new rules from the 19th they will allow residents back, but NZers wanting to simply visit are not permitted.

Obviously NZ would need a bubble type arrangement to remove the 14 day quarantine on return, but until the Cook Islands are willing to enter into such an arrangement nothing will happen quickly.

TQ for the reply

I have read more stories just posted those two

Last week the Cooks PM said he wanted a travel bubble with NZ to allow NZ tourists, I therefore assume if NZ allowed NZ tourists to return without quarantine the Cooks govt could allow NZ tourists since their PM stated that desire

driller2000

936 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 374

ID Verified

#2504323 13-Jun-2020 23:14

CI citizens can gain entry and so can others if they have valid reasons and by explicit approval e.g. we sent 2 staff members back for a project we are working on over there. But there is a requirement for a 2 week quarantine in NZ and also 2 weeks in the CI - so that would not work for tourists/visitors wanting your std 1 week holiday in Raro.

But these requirements are under review and will be modified/relaxed at some point once both Govts can agree what these are.

kiwiharry

1064 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 476

ID Verified

Subscriber

#2504370 14-Jun-2020 10:05

The return to NZ with 2 week quarantine is just one of the issues.

On a travellers return to Auckland, they will be walking through same corridors, duty free stores, immigration, baggage hall and customs area as travellers from Covid infected countries.

This is just one area for possible Covid contact. Probably many others too, so not as simple as saying we both Covid free, let's immediately open travel.

If you can't laugh at yourself then you probably shouldn't laugh at others.

xlinknz

1141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 168

Trusted

#2504408 14-Jun-2020 13:05

kiwiharry: The return to NZ with 2 week quarantine is just one of the issues.

On a travellers return to Auckland, they will be walking through same corridors, duty free stores, immigration, baggage hall and customs area as travellers from Covid infected countries.

This is just one area for possible Covid contact. Probably many others too, so not as simple as saying we both Covid free, let's immediately open travel.

Clearly the purpose of a travel bubble is no quarantine

I'm not saying there doesn't need to be appropriate processes and presumably processes for separation already exist at airports for entry of returning citizens etc from countries and transits that still have Covid-19

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

scuwp

3927 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2510

#2504535 14-Jun-2020 15:27

I have an alternative theory, that they are dragging their feet because they want NZ'ers to spend their $$ in the domestic market as long and as much as possible as part of the regeneration. It's going to be a long time before we have open tourism again, and this is a stalling tactic to inject at least some money into the tourist sector. Also the Aussies will spend more $$ in NZ that a typical visitor from the islands, hence that being the priority.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

Dunnersfella

4100 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 887

#2504536 14-Jun-2020 15:43

I agree with scuwp.

Why take NZ money overseas when you can spend it locally and support those who are struggling...

I know it's nice to go away to the tropics during the winter, but sometimes the needs of the few should be a far lower priority than those of the masses.

ezbee

2651 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3089

#2504539 14-Jun-2020 15:47

xlinknz:

kiwiharry: The return to NZ with 2 week quarantine is just one of the issues.

On a travellers return to Auckland, they will be walking through same corridors, duty free stores, immigration, baggage hall and customs area as travellers from Covid infected countries.

This is just one area for possible Covid contact. Probably many others too, so not as simple as saying we both Covid free, let's immediately open travel.

Clearly the purpose of a travel bubble is no quarantine

I'm not saying there doesn't need to be appropriate processes and presumably processes for separation already exist at airports for entry of returning citizens etc from countries and transits that still have Covid-19

I would not underestimate the practical difficulties of separating travelers, our Airports are not built with this in mind .
One path to and through Baggage, Immigration and Customs Agriculture halls.
Its efficient and secure, but hardly built for current conditions.

You do have separate Domestic Terminal buildings and areas , but these don't have the secure immigration, customs, MAF.

Especially if you consider the volumes of traffic they have to manage.
Also where now few people have reasons to go to the international terminals so not likely to be hanging around areas where those going into quarantine are waiting for their bus etc.

So I expect those involved at airports are puzzling out how they manage. Physical separation, separation of Staff etc,
thus a bit of extra time and delay .

Edit: for spellchecker error.

xlinknz

1141 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 168

Trusted

#2504571 14-Jun-2020 18:13

@scuwp Yes some in the Cooks have already suggested the NZ Govt wants or prefers to NZ tourists to spend their money in NZ. I don't think that what is occurring is deliberate. If I look at timing clearly a bubble with Australia was early on the radar due to the value, then Fiji wanted to be part of it, meanwhile the Cooks it appears was forgotten about until 1-2 weeks ago oops!

@Dunnersfella I suspect the number of Kiwis who would go to the Cooks would be small and the lost value to the NZ economy almost irrelevant in the bigger picture in terms of total domestic tourist spend. Also consider the number of Kiwis who are likely to want to travel to Oz when that bubble occurs would be significantly more in volume and value and when the desired bubble with Oz occurs it has to be 2 way. The NZ Govt isn't going to allow Australians to come and spend their $ here and not allow NZers to exit NZ for Oz. Also if I go to the Cooks I'll be supporting Air NZ which is partially tax payer owned.

All I suspect that as @ezbee has mentioned, there is some detail and process to work through whether it be the Pacific or Australia. Add Australia is still getting new Covid-19 cases. I would not be surprised if a bubble to the Cooks is being now being considered and seen as a potential priority pilot an Intl bubble since it is one NZ can far more easily control and the Cooks have no cases of Covid-19 and the Cooks govt wants it too.

I predict in the next week or two we will hear more on it from the NZ and or Cooks Govts. Our Govt has already backed down on the Australia (bubble) first position

Scotdownunder

225 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 108

Subscriber

#2504640 14-Jun-2020 19:31

Perhaps the solution to the airport separation issue is to use Wellington’s international terminal as a dedicated Pacific Islands gateway. Domestic travel required for the largest market - Auckland but the rest of NZ has being doing that via AKL for years.

Geekzone

Want to support Geekzone and browse the site without the ads? Subscribe to Geekzone now (monthly, annual and lifetime options).

frankv

5705 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3666

Lifetime subscriber

#2504972 15-Jun-2020 12:13

Scotdownunder:

Perhaps the solution to the airport separation issue is to use Wellington’s international terminal as a dedicated Pacific Islands gateway. Domestic travel required for the largest market - Auckland but the rest of NZ has being doing that via AKL for years.

Also 300 miles more flying each way = more fuel = higher costs, given that the Pacific Islands are all north of Auckland.

Scotdownunder

225 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 108

Subscriber

#2504982 15-Jun-2020 12:23

Very true frankv but we will be paying a lot more for tickets anyway I imagine. All depends on how critical separation is viewed by the islands and if appropriate arrangement are not possible in Auckland then less ideal arrangements may be better than nothing. Will be watching with interest what finally transpires.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2504991 15-Jun-2020 12:36

Given what sbiddle said, isnt this discussion not yet relevant, until the Cooks allow it? I'm sure the Cooks want our dollars and Im sure we are happy to support this dependency, but until they allow it, its a no go right now?

robjg63

4161 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1425

Subscriber

#2505028 15-Jun-2020 14:11

scuwp:

I have an alternative theory, that they are dragging their feet because they want NZ'ers to spend their $$ in the domestic market as long and as much as possible as part of the regeneration. It's going to be a long time before we have open tourism again, and this is a stalling tactic to inject at least some money into the tourist sector. Also the Aussies will spend more $$ in NZ that a typical visitor from the islands, hence that being the priority.

So article today on stuff.co.nz - the Cook Islands are cautious about opening up to NZ, because NZ has said we also want a bubble with Australia.

Australia has not set an 'elimination' policy - so there will likely be cases for some time (which we will inevitably import at some stage if we open up to them and we will have to try and manage).

The Cook Islands do not want that possibility because they can't cope with any outbreaks.

I would imagine the other Pacific Islands would take a similar view to the Cook Islands.

If you took Australia out of the equation, we could probably open up with the Pacific now....

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ... | 9