Pacific / Cook Islands

Cooks' opposition wants more transparency over vaccine rollout

16:38 pm on 13 April 2021

The Cook Islands opposition says details of the agreement with New Zealand over the Covid-19 vaccine must be made public.

Democratic Party party leader, Tina Pupuke Browne said, while it's known New Zealand was expected to assume legal and financial liability for the roll-out of vaccines, the absence of a commitment to a start date is concerning.

She said Cook Islanders hear of other Pacific countries receiving their vaccine and want to know when the same will happen there.

Cook Islands opposition leader, Tina Browne Photo: supplied

Ms Browne asked if the government considered other options, instead of just relying on New Zealand.

Ms Browne said the Prime Minister, Mark Brown, who pushed for two-way New Zealand - Rarotonga travel to begin by 1st May, needs to assure people the vaccine is coming and when it will begin rolling out.

She said anything less than absolute transparency is unacceptable.