Pacific bubble – Asia Pacific Report

Trans-Tasman bubble opens – data key to other bubbles opening, says PM

APR editor — Sun, 18 Apr 2021 21:55:47 +0000

While the trans-Tasman bubble today is “a significant day” for New Zealanders, any moves to open the borders to other countries will need to be be based on hard evidence, the prime minister says.

After months of discussions, the trans-Tasman bubble is officially open.

The prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia are describing it as a world-leading arrangement that promotes travel between the two countries, without letting covid-19 into the community.

Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison say the Pacific Islands are next on the list.

A May bubble is still intended with the Cook Islands but no firm date has been set as yet, Ardern said.

Opening up to the Pacific does not need to be done in lock-step with Australia, Ardern told RNZ Morning Report, because New Zealand has always aimed to have “a country-by-country framework”.

“It’s up to the discretion of each nation.”

Home quarantine?
Morrison has suggested home quarantine for vaccinated travellers could be possible by the end of the year.

The NZ government was sceptical about home quarantine, Ardern said.

Ardern said this country would want to look closely at the research and data around that and the risk of transmission to others.

“Bubble time” – The New Zealand Herald’s front page today. Image: APR screenshot

“Our baseline is to get as many New Zealanders as we can vaccinated to a high degree before we look at opening up to countries that we consider to be higher risk than what we’re doing with Australia,” she said.

“Then there are a range of areas where we’re keeping an open mind but we really want the data to back up what we do.

“At the moment because those who are being vaccinated are not being regularly tested getting that research and data is a little difficult.”

While the chances of passing on Covid-19 were much lower for vaccinated people, more time was needed to establish solid data.

Border in stages
The border would open in stages, Ardern said, and there may be a scenario such as a variant responding less effectively to the vaccine being used here, so there may have to be “different protocols” for people from some parts of the world.

Ardern agreed it was a “very significant day” for New Zealanders.

She said the two countries would not be in this position if both countries had not adopted a strict covid-19 management regime with everyone playing their part.

There will be ups and downs but to have a quarantine-free arrangement with another country: “I don’t know anywhere else in the world that’s doing that so it is a very big day and exciting for family and friends,” Ardern said.

Asked if any decision had been made on allowing flights to resume from India, she said nothing had been decided yet.

The government was mindful of worsening numbers there but also had to be aware of New Zealanders’ rights to come home and not be left stateless.

The government was considering options for tightening up pre-departure testing in India such as reducing the time between the test and flight departure, plus accrediting some laboratories.

Removing inequity
Pre-departure quarantine within India would be very difficult to run, she said, in a country where covid-19 was so rampant.

The announcement by Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi later today was aimed at removing some inequity in the system relating to some migrants whose families had not been able to join them in New Zealand.

“This is us trying to work through an inequity in our system at the moment.”

She said there were spaces within managed isolation and quarantine at present.

While there are estimates that 5000 people are currently separated from their families, the numbers are imprecise in part because some have visas that are expiring, so they no longer qualify to have their families join them.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

Barbara Dreaver: Cook Islands travel bubble pressure a bid to ‘strong arm’ Ardern

APR editor — Wed, 15 Jul 2020 10:27:10 +0000

By Barbara Dreaver, 1 NEWS Pacific Correspondent

The Cook Islands government’s inaccurate and startling announcement yesterday about a tourism bubble opening with New Zealand as soon as next week has done more harm than good.

Clearly a failed attempt at trying to force Jacinda Ardern’s hand into giving a date now and using mouthpiece media to do it, it’s a rookie mistake, an embarrassment, and has done nothing for healthy diplomatic relations.

Jacinda Ardern must have choked on her cornflakes when she heard the Cook Islands Deputy Prime Minister Mark Brown’s ambitious announcement.

So, here are the facts – yes, discussions are happening between the two governments, yes, there is an agreement for a tourism bubble, but no date has been set as to when that will be as specific processes need to happen first.

Everyone knows the covid-free Cook Islands is crying out for tourists and that Kiwis are crying out for a safe island destination to holiday in.

It’s a match made in heaven. But it’s not unreasonable for the New Zealand government to ensure any border reopening with island neighbours gives as much consideration to safety as to speed.

It needs to be done right the first time and it needs to be done properly.

Border breaches
While New Zealand looks good with no community spread of covid, this could change down the track. There could be border breaches, there could be any manner of things. It only takes one person.

If procedures are put in place to start with, like tracking and tracing, then these can swing into action to protect both local populations and visitors.

Barbara Dreaver talks tourism bubbles on TV One.

And tourism can continue. The last thing that needs to happen is the speedy opening of a tourism bubble and then having to close it again because it wasn’t done right the first time.

It’s easy to understand the Cook Islands’ desperation. Come September, the island government’s wage subsidy for those impacted by covid-19 runs out and tourist operators will be even worse off than they already are.

Many families who rely on the tourism dollar have taken loans to build the holiday houses they rent to tourists – and interest rates in the Cook Islands are nine or 10 percent.

The country is doing it tough, as is Samoa, as is Fiji.

Tahiti’s desperation
Tomorrow French Polynesia will open up its border to the world, including the covid-ridden US.

And no quarantine period for visitors shows the measure of that desperation.

That country’s leadership is taking a calculated risk with the lives of its people to protect jobs and the economy. But what a risk.

The Cook Islands tourism industry has very strong and noisy advocates – they always have been and that’s not a bad thing.

The continuous stream of calls to “open the border now” has been relentless. The campaign to get anyone on board who will listen has been widespread – personalities, talk show hosts, reporters, opposition MPs, anyone who can be used, is being used.

Theories abound about New Zealand not wanting Kiwis to take their tourist dollars elsewhere, that it’s political etc etc.

Maybe there’s some truth to that but it doesn’t change anything and you can guarantee the same people in New Zealand who are bleating on about opening the bubble now will be the first to indignantly proclaim that New Zealand didn’t look after its island neighbours should something go wrong.

Jacinda Ardern has been consistent in her messaging about protecting Pacific countries and that’s hardly surprising after being burnt by Samoa’s measles epidemic which originated from New Zealand.

Speed is important, it absolutely is, but so is safety for our island neighbours.

The Pacific Media Centre has permission to republish Barbara Dreaver’s TV One articles.

Mixed views still over Pacific travel ‘bubbles’ but private sector has hope

Wansolwara — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 10:02:15 +0000

By Ben Bilua in Suva

Experts have challenged the value of immediate implementation of tourism or travel “bubbles”, saying that it is too early to open the borders as the risk of covid-19 remains high.

In a recent meeting with journalists, chief executive officer of the South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), Chris Cocker, said the risk of covid-19 was still high in the Pacific with the level of health preparedness below what was needed.

“For example, the lack of ventilators in our countries and the testing capabilities in our islands,” he said.

SPTO head Chris Cocker … majority of Pacific countries not ready.” Image: Wansolwara

“We have seen that the health and safety concerns in the Pacific nations outweigh the economic recovery concerns because realistically, the majority of our Pacific Island countries are just not ready and capable to address covid-19 if the borders are reopened in this case.”

The Association of South Pacific Airlines CEO, George Faktaufon, adds that at this stage, it is too early to reopen borders.

“We just don’t have the facilities to control such a pandemic in our islands,” he said.

Tourism and aviation are among the industries hardest hit by covid-19, with thousands of jobs lost and business revenue in freefall.

Urgent talks wanted
Faktaufon wants to see urgent talks between governments and airlines to make sure airlines survive the crisis.

While both executives are cautious about the dangers of moving too quickly to open borders, they say planning for a return to tourism must start now.

“For us, the planning is important because we just can’t pick up the aeroplanes and start flying when the borders open and we find this to be the most difficult part,” Faktaufon said.

Lack of regional co-ordination on some of the issues such as security requirements and quarantine requirement are aviation’s great concern, according to Faktaufon.

“How do we handle visitors as they come to the airport? In terms of security requirements, quarantine requirements in the absence of these important procedures,” he said.

Private sector leaders, such as the chairman of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation (PIPSO), Stephen Lyon, are more optimistic that there are ways to open borders soon and keep people safe.

He and other private sector leaders warn the economic impact of covid-19 is already severe and will get much worse if countries do not act soon.

And he notes the damage from the lack of passenger flights is hurting well beyond the tourist industry as exporters see freight charges for the few remaining flights rise substantially.

Health impact threat
While Lyon recognises the threat of the health impacts of covid-19 are real, he warns the economic impacts are less visible and could last much longer.

Around the world commentators are predicting it could take a decade or even a generation to recover from the history-making economic damage being wrought by covid-related dislocation.

“We are a very remote part of the world and it will take us longer to recover economically than other places simply because of our limited market access and our remoteness,” he said.

Lyon sees the way forward in getting low-risk activities happening immediately – activities such as trade in goods (with proper safeguards), trade and movement of people in a Pacific bubble, including countries that have no covid-19 cases and even tourism with countries such as New Zealand or Australia (again with proper quarantine and safeguards)

“We have got to look at this idea of open borders and when we can get open borders for trade and get the movement of people and goods occurring again,” Lyon said.

“I see no reason why processes cannot be put in place relatively quickly and by that I mean a matter of weeks and months. (If there is) no community transmission open up for the movement of people and trade between covid-19 free states of the Pacific,” he said.

Important option
The president of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), Sandeep Chauhan shared a similar sentiment saying that reopening the border is an important option for leaders to decide.

He said the economic impact of covid-19 had been unforgiving and that respective states in the Pacific needed to get down to business with private sectors to keep the economy functioning.

Chauhan said there was a need for close collaboration between the private sector and respective governments to establish program and activities that would maintain the economy through small to medium business activities and initiatives.

Ben Bilua (Solomon Islands) is a final-year journalism student at University of the South Pacific’s Laucala campus. He is also the online student editor for Wansolwara, USP Journalism’s student training newspaper and online publications. The Pacific Media Centre has a partnership with Wansolwara.

Quarantine-free NZ, Cook Islands bubble expected within week

Forget Australia, open up to covid-free Pacific bubble, says Cook Islander

APR editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 21:45:34 +0000

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

New Zealand’s “intransigence” over wanting to allow Australians in before New Zealanders out to the covid-free Pacific does not stand up to scrutiny, says a Cook Islands resort owner and doctor.

“If we unwittingly let the virus cross the Tasman, our country will take a huge hit,” says New Zealand-based John Dunn, a resort owner and visiting surgeon at Rarotonga Hospital.

Instead of concentrating on a possible travel bubble with Australia, New Zealand should be demonstrating “kindness” and offering a tourism economic lifeline to the Cook islands, Niue and Tokelau.

10th PNG case ‘evidence of local transmission’

John Dunn … Testing in other island countries has been “patchy”. Image: JD

“Kindness was brilliantly promoted by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a principle in the pandemic fight, alongside testing and tracing,” he wrote today in a guest column in The New Zealand Herald.

“Kindness can be misplaced, such as allowing infected people to travel the country. Alternatively, it could be used powerfully, by saving Pacific economies.

“The Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau don’t feature in the UN list of member countries. That’s because they aren’t fully independent, existing in free association with New Zealand.

“While self-governing, their historical status means they depend on us in varying ways in matters like defence and foreign policy. And they are New Zealanders. We have real responsibility for them stemming from the colonial era.”

‘Malevolent engine’
Moreover, the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau are free of the “malevolent engine of SARS-Cov-2”.

“It has never penetrated these islands. The Cooks in particular have been conscientious and aggressive, testing 15 percent of the tiny population – all negative.”

Dunn praised the guidance of Dr Aumea Herman, the Cook Islands Secretary of Health, for this achievement.

“She is an internationally trained public health expert and has fiercely guarded the nation’s borders with the support of the government, shutting down one critical week earlier than New Zealand.”

Testing in other island nations had been patchy and reporting was unreliable, especially from those living under non-democratic regimes and with larger populations, he wrote in a clear reference to Fiji which has lately been pushing the idea of a “Bula bubble” with Australia and New Zealand.

“There exists, therefore, a strong argument to regard Rarotonga in the Cook Islands as a domestic destination and Prime Minister Henry Puna has made exactly that appeal.”

Dunn cited numbers such as only 15,000 people live in the 15 Cook Islands, mostly on Rarotonga and Aitutaki. (60,000 live in New Zealand).

Travel is economically vital
“Tourism represents 70 percent of GDP and 70 percent of the 170,000 annual visitors are from New Zealand. This travel is vital to the economy,” he wrote.

“At present Rarotonga is unnecessarily empty, the resorts are unnecessarily deserted and the airport – the lifeline – unnecessarily vacant. There is absolutely no danger in travelling there. Visitors are at more risk from a tsunami or cyclone.”

Dunn said that Prime Minister Ardern had stated she did not want to think about this issue until after a transtasman bubble was established. However, former prime minister Helen Clark had advocated opening to the islands at the same time as Australia.

“The argument that it is better for our economy to allow Australians in before New Zealanders out to the Pacific does not stand up to scrutiny,” wrote Dunn.

“Also, most of the New Zealand dollars spent in the Cook Islands return home via exports purchased and revenue for companies like our national carrier. Finally, the lesson from the GFC is that unemployment in the islands triggers a further diaspora to [New Zealand] which becomes a welfare load and further decimates the local population.

New Zealand should open up to selected Pacific nations now, wrote Dunn.

“To not do so is illogical and damaging. It makes more sense to keep New Zealand, and the Cook Islands, Australian-free while they still have active coronavirus.”

Fiji works on its own ‘Bula Bubble’ in spite of Australian, NZ covid cases

APR editor — Sun, 21 Jun 2020 05:51:24 +0000

Pacific Media Centre Newsdesk

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says while Australia and New Zealand work out their Trans-Tasman bubble, Fiji’s equal greater success against the Pacific nation into a position to take the lead among island states, reports FBC News.

The Prime Minister revealed that Fiji was working on its own bubble – a “Bula Bubble”, between Fiji, New Zealand, and Australia.

But he made no mention of the rise in covid-19 cases in both Australia – 27 new cases in the past 24 hours – and New Zealand – two in the last 24 hours, taking the number of active cases to seven after 28 “covid-free” days with no new cases.

FBC News deputy manager Ritika Pratap reports that Bainimarama said:

“Working with Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji, we’ll be welcoming Aussies and Kiwis to holiday in Fiji in a manner that is carefully controlled and safely insulated.

“Everywhere they go will be wholly dedicated to others who match the same criteria, safely guided by what we’re calling ‘VIP lanes’ allowing them to Vacation In Paradise.”

However, the Prime Minister highlighted that to come to Fiji, Australian and New Zealand tourists would have to follow some protocols.

He highlighted that intending travellers must present a certificate from a recognised medical institution certifying their 14 days of quarantine in their home country, along with proof of a negative covid-19 test result within 48 hours of their departure for Fiji.

He said at this point they could immediately start their “Bula Bubble” holiday within confined VIP lanes.

“They can complete 14 days of quarantine at their own cost in a Fijian Government-designated quarantine centre or a hotel of their choosing, after which a negative covid-19 test can clear them to start their “Bula Bubble” vacation.”

He said this Bula Bubble would allow Aussies and Kiwis to once again enjoy the best of Fiji while remaining separate from any other travellers and the general public.

“To be clear, any tourist who comes to Fiji on these terms still won’t be able to move freely throughout the country. All of their movement will be contained within the VIP lanes, starting on the airplane, then from the Nadi Airport onto designated transport to their designated resort or hotel, where they’ll remain throughout their stay.”

Identifying isolated resorts
The Prime Minister said Fiji was currently identifying geographically-isolated resorts that were the best fit for the “Bula Bubble”.

Fiji Airways, in collaboration with Tourism Fiji and the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport would announce more details in due course.

RNZ News reports there have been two new cases of covid-19 detected in New Zealand today, both in isolation.

One of the new cases is the child of the couple who tested positive yesterday, and the other is a 59-year-old woman who travelled from Delhi.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement they would not provide the exact age of the child who arrived with its parents from India, but it was under two years old.

“We are pleased to report that all family members are doing well at the Jet Park Hotel, the quarantine facility in Auckland.”

The second case arrived in Auckland on 15 June on flight AI1316.

Seven active cases in NZ
There are now seven active cases in New Zealand.

The total number of confirmed cases is 1161. The combined total of confirmed and probable cases is 1511.

RNZ News also reports that Auckland’s covid-19 isolation facilities have reached capacity, with 4272 New Zealanders in managed isolation and almost 900 more expected to arrive in the country in the next two days.

This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.
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