Stakeholders want tourism and seabed mining included in talks with NZ Minister

Local stakeholders hope tourism, seabed mining and the lack of available flights will be at the forefront of any conversation during New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta’s visit to the Cook Islands this week.

The Minister is set to arrive in the Cook Islands on Wednesday for a whistlestop tour with engagements in Rarotonga on Thursday and Manihiki on Friday.

The visit includes bilateral talks with Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, and the signing of the statement of partnership.

Te Ipukarea Society (TIS) programme manager Alanna Smith said it would be good to know where New Zealand actually stands on the issue of seabed mining.

“At the moment, there is a real grey area around New Zealand’s position, so it would be good to get some clarity,” Smith said.

“We’re concerned that there is simply not enough information about the environmental effects of seabed mining. We don’t think it’s sustainable.”

In August, Mahuta announced the New Zealand climate finance strategy.

This Strategy is designed to guide NZ$1.3 billion of climate finance investments between 2022 and 2025. At least 50 per cent of this commitment will be directed towards the Pacific, with a key focus on adaptation.

Smith said TIS would also like to see investment in improving the Cook Islands’ waste management systems, as it “needs a lot of help to get it in order”.

Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce chief executive Rebecca Tavioni said “everyone is screaming out for more flights at the moment”.

“That’s the big thing from an economic perspective. Our country relies on tourism, and it can’t recover if it doesn’t get the flights. As Air New Zealand is part-owned by the New Zealand government, perhaps there could be an opportunity to voice our concern,” Tavioni said. 

Asked whether the Cook Islands should ask for more funding as part of signing the partnership, Tavioni said the money the country had received to date funded a lot of the economic recovery roadmap and helped keep businesses afloat until such a time that tourism could resume.

“There is already a lot of investment in the economic recovery roadmap that is still in progress,” she said.

Tavioni said it was great that Mahuta was previously Minister of Māori Development.

“She’s got a real focus on progressing indigenous livelihoods, which is really good news.” 

Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council president Liana Scott, of Muri Beach Club Hotel, said: “we are of the view that New Zealand plays a major part in tourism to the Cook Islands and ensuring there is and continues to be a positive relationship is imperative”.  

“Tourism from New Zealand to the Cook Islands is a crucial component to the ability for businesses to bounce back from the effects of Covid-19 – already we have seen growth in this market,” Scott said.   

“We are also not immune to some of the struggles that New Zealand is going through such as inflation, limited airline access, staff shortages – particularly in hospitality.” 

Scott said the industry was heading into its low season.

“Without a direct flight from Sydney and/or North America, businesses are going to feel the effects of very low occupancy – and this unfortunately will filter down to have economic negative effects to general businesses and individuals,” Scott said.

“We are grateful for the swift and comprehensive financial response that New Zealand was able to provide businesses relief (through CI government) while we navigated through the effects of Covid-19 in our road to recovery and we trust the dialogue will continue.”

The New Zealand High Commission is expected to release the itinerary for Mahuta later today.

Source by: Cook Islands News | Written by Matthew Littlewood | Published in National, Politics