WELLINGTON: People from the Cook Islands can start quarantine-free travel to New Zealand next week, the two governments said on Friday, but New Zealand-based people will have to wait until later in the year to visit the Cook Islands.
The Cook Islands is one of the few countries to remain COVID-free.
Leaders of the South Pacific countries had announced plans for two-way travel in December, which would be New Zealand’s first reciprocal “travel bubble” since the novel coronavirus brought border closures around the world.
But New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a statement the plan would be one way for now.
“Following confirmation of the Cook Islands’ COVID free status, and the implementation of strict health and border protocols we are now in the position to resume quarantine-free travel for passengers from the Cook Islands into New Zealand,” Ardern said.
Travellers from the Cook Islands can arrive in New Zealand from Jan. 21 and do not have to quarantine, but…