AGP Executive Report

Domestic Shipping Milestone: Prime Minister Mark Brown is set to travel to Wuzhou, China next week for the official launch of the MV Tuitui Moana, a newly built inter-island vessel meant to strengthen safer, more reliable links between Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Aviation & Tourism Boost: The Cook Islands is chasing what could be its “best year ever,” with Australia driving strong growth and Jetstar’s first-ever direct Brisbane–Rarotonga flight adding fresh connectivity. Industry Reality Check: At ASPA81 in Rarotonga, Air Rarotonga’s Sir Ewan Smith highlighted the day-to-day challenges of running aviation from a remote island base—while delegates pointed to expanding routes as a key strategy for island economies. Skills for the Future: The Cook Islands Aquatics Federation is rolling out a “Train the Trainers” programme after Easter swimming lessons for more than 35 children. Infrastructure Pressure: A reminder from the tourism boom: growth only works if water, waste, roads and environmental protection keep up.

New Vessel Launch: Prime Minister Mark Brown is set to travel to Wuzhou, China next week for the official launch of the MV Tuitui Moana, a newly built inter-island ship meant to “stitch the ocean” and strengthen links between Rarotonga and the Pa Enua. Tourism Momentum: Australia is driving a potential “best year ever” for Cook Islands tourism, with visitor numbers on track for record levels. Air Connectivity Boost: Jetstar has launched the first-ever direct Brisbane–Rarotonga flight, and a proud Cook Islander, Rob Woonton, was on the flight deck for the inaugural service—another sign the destination is adding routes instead of losing them. Local Capacity & Growth: The Cook Islands Aquatics Federation is expanding its “Train the Trainers” swimming programme after Easter lessons for more than 35 children. Infrastructure Pressure: A reminder from the week’s commentary: as arrivals rise, water, waste, roads and environmental protection must keep pace.

Aussie-led tourism surge: The Cook Islands is on track for its “best year ever,” with Australia pushing visitor growth and tourism earnings jumping to $USD3.9b in 2025—even as cruise arrivals and European numbers lag. New route, real momentum: Jetstar’s inaugural direct Brisbane–Rarotonga flight is now in service, and officials say it’s part of a wider push to add flights rather than cut them, with nearly 55,000 Australians forecast for 2026. Connectivity with local pride: Cook Islander Rob Woonton helped pilot the inaugural service, turning a tourism milestone into a homecoming story. On-the-ground capacity: With visitor numbers rising, a fresh call is made for infrastructure to keep pace—water, waste, roads, and environmental protection. Community & skills: The Cook Islands Aquatics Federation is expanding its “Train the Trainers” swimming programme after Easter lessons for more than 35 children. Regional ties: Central Province (PNG) and the Cook Islands renewed sister-province links, with cooperation including tourism, culture, youth, and climate action.

Aviation Boost: The Cook Islands is adding flights, not cutting them, with Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas pointing to Jetstar’s inaugural Brisbane–Rarotonga service and a planned direct South Island route from New Zealand—at a time when Australia is forecast to nearly double visitors in 2026. New Route Moment: Jetstar’s first Brisbane–Rarotonga flight also had a local highlight, with Cook Islander Rob Woonton on the flight deck as first officer. Tourism Safety Watch: A viral “hidden gem” beach on Vancouver Island is drawing visitors who are blowing tires on remote logging roads—an instant reminder that off-the-beaten-track travel needs real planning. Local Learning in Aitutaki: Te Ipukarea Society ran a “Learning by Doing” lagoon classroom for Araura College students, spotlighting turtles and a giant clam nursery. Regional Links: Central Province and the Cook Islands renewed ties with a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement, aiming at culture, tourism, youth, women’s empowerment and climate action.

Aviation Boost: The Cook Islands is adding flight capacity, not cutting it, with Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas saying the country is “going the other way” as Jetstar launches its first Brisbane–Rarotonga service and a direct South Island route from New Zealand is next. New Route Spotlight: Jetstar’s inaugural Brisbane–Rarotonga flight landed in Rarotonga with Cook Islander first officer Robert Woonton on the flight deck for a homecoming moment. Tourism Demand: Nicholas pointed to strong outlooks—Australia forecast to deliver nearly 55,000 visitors in 2026 and New Zealand expected to top 120,000 this year—linking aviation and tourism as inseparable for island livelihoods. Local Learning & Conservation: Te Ipukarea Society ran a hands-on Aitutaki lagoon classroom for Araura College students, from turtle spotting to giant clam nursery visits. Regional Ties: Central Province and the Cook Islands renewed their sister-province partnership, expanding cooperation across culture, youth, tourism, climate and trade. Travel Safety Note: A US CDC update flags a sharp dengue rise and travel precautions for affected countries.

New Route to Rarotonga: Jetstar has launched the first Brisbane–Rarotonga flight, landing just over six hours after take-off on 18 May—an easy new link for Queensland travellers, with a Cook Islands first officer on the flight deck. Pacific Sports Buzz: The Oceania Athletics Championships are in full swing in Cairns, with Pacific athletes lighting up track and field, while Oceania Swimming in Suva shows the medal gap is narrowing beyond Australia and New Zealand. Local Partnerships: Central Province (PNG) and the Cook Islands have renewed ties by signing a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement, aiming at culture, tourism, youth, women’s empowerment, climate and more. Travel Watch: Passport rankings keep moving—Oman’s improved Henley score is noted, and the week also highlights visa access lists that include the Cook Islands for some travellers. Sustainability Spotlight: Vanuatu’s Havannah Boat House is being praised as a “sit lightly on the land” model for sustainable stays.

Aviation Boost: Jetstar has launched the first-ever Brisbane–Rarotonga flight, with the inaugural service departing Brisbane at 10:20pm on 18 May and landing in just over six hours—giving Queensland travellers a direct new route to Rarotonga’s beaches and lagoons, and featuring Cook Islands first officer Rob Woonton on the flight deck for a homecoming moment. Regional Connections: Central Province (PNG) and the Cook Islands have renewed ties by signing a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement, building on more than 150 years of shared history and aiming to grow cooperation in culture, tourism, education, youth, women’s empowerment, climate, agriculture and trade. Pacific Spotlight: Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva showed a widening gap as Pacific nations like Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and the Cook Islands pushed harder against traditional powerhouses. Travel Context: Passport ranking updates keep rolling in—Oman’s passport improved in Henley’s latest index, while Pakistan’s sits lower, though both still list visa-free or visa-on-arrival options including the Cook Islands.

Black Sea Tension: A Russian drone struck the Chinese-crew cargo ship “KSL DEYANG” near Odesa, with Ukraine saying there were no injuries—an incident described as a “monstrous mistake” just ahead of Putin’s China visit. Regional Partnerships: Closer ties are being locked in across the Pacific: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and PNG’s Central Province Governor Rufina Peter signed a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement at the Melanesian Oceans Summit, targeting culture, tourism, youth, women’s empowerment, climate, agriculture and trade. Travel Access Watch: Passport rankings keep shifting—Oman improved in Henley’s May 2026 index, while Pakistan slipped to 100th, though both still list visa-free/VOA options that include the Cook Islands. Aviation Inspiration: Isabel Drollet Macdonald is set to become Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot, with her Cook Islands roots and a push to inspire more women in aviation. Sports Momentum: Pacific swimmers are challenging the old guard at the Oceania Championships, with Cook Islands among the nations turning in standout performances.

Oman Passport Update: Oman’s passport climbed in the Henley Passport Index to 55th (from 57 in January), with visa-free/VOA access to 84 destinations—good news for travellers planning flexible routes. Health & Travel Alert: The US CDC reports dengue cases in the country jumped 359% in 2024, with most cases linked to travel, and a fresh travel notice covering 12 countries—mosquito bite prevention is the takeaway. Regional Links for the Cooks: Central Province (PNG) and the Cook Islands renewed historic ties by signing a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement, aiming at cultural exchange, tourism, youth and women’s empowerment, plus climate and agriculture cooperation. On-Island Aviation Milestone: Air Rarotonga is set to welcome its first female pilot, Isabel Drollet Macdonald, a Cook Islands-raised aviator breaking into a traditionally male-heavy industry. Sport Spotlight: Cook Islands swimmer Jacob Story won Oceania gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke, while Pacific swimming nations are closing the gap at the Oceania Championships.

Passport Updates: Oman’s passport edges up in the Henley Passport Index to 55th (from 57 in January), with visa-free/VOA access to 84 destinations—good news for travellers planning quick hops. Health & Travel Alerts: In the US, dengue cases are reported up sharply (359% rise in average annual cases in 2024 vs 2010–2023), with the CDC flagging travel-related risk for 12 countries—mosquito protection is the takeaway. Regional Links for the Cooks: Cook Islands and PNG’s Central Province have renewed ties via a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement, with cooperation spanning culture, youth, women’s empowerment, tourism, climate, agriculture, and trade. Local Spotlight: Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot, Isabel Drollet Macdonald, has graduated from Massey University and is in talks with the airline. Sustainable Tourism: Vanuatu’s Havannah Boat House is highlighted as “living” architecture—built on piers, using local materials, and designed to “sit lightly on the land.” Sports: Pacific swimmers are challenging the old NZ/Aus dominance at the Oceania Championships, with strong performances from Cook Islands and others.

Mosquito-borne alert: The US CDC says dengue is surging, with average annual cases in the US up 359% in 2024 versus the 2010–2023 average, and most cases linked to travel—prompting a Level 1 travel notice for 12 countries and a fresh push to prevent mosquito bites. Cook Islands–Pacific ties: Central Province has renewed its long-running friendship with the Cook Islands by signing a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement with Prime Minister Mark Brown, aiming for cultural exchange, tourism, youth and women’s empowerment, plus climate and agriculture cooperation. Aviation milestone: Isabel Drollet Macdonald has graduated as a qualified pilot and is in talks with Air Rarotonga to become the airline’s first female pilot. Regional sport buzz: Cook Islands swimmer Jacob Story won Oceania gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke, while Pacific nations are challenging the usual swimming powerhouses at the Oceania Championships. Travel access watch: Passport ranking stories keep rolling in—Pakistan’s mobility is reported down to 30 visa-free/visa-on-arrival destinations in the latest Henley update.

Pacific ties get a boost: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and Central Province Governor Rufina Peter have signed a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement at APEC Haus, building on more than 150 years of shared history and aiming to deepen cooperation on culture, education, youth exchange, women’s empowerment, tourism, climate, agriculture, sports, trade and investment. Regional momentum: The move lands alongside wider Pacific activity, including Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva where Cook Islands and other Pacific swimmers helped signal a closing gap with traditional powerhouses. Aviation milestone: Isabel Drollet Macdonald has graduated as a qualified pilot and is in talks with Air Rarotonga, set to become the airline’s first female pilot—another win for Cook Islands talent. Travel context: Passport ranking chatter continues across the region, with visa-free access lists highlighting Cook Islands as a reachable destination for several nationalities.

Cook Islands–PNG ties: Central Province and Rarotonga have renewed their long-running friendship with a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement signed by Governor Rufina Peter and Prime Minister Mark Brown at APEC Haus, building on a first PNG–Cooks development framework and aiming to boost cultural exchange, youth and women’s empowerment, tourism, climate action, agriculture, sports, trade and investment. Aviation milestone: Isabel Drollet Macdonald has graduated from Massey University and is set to become Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot, with the airline saying she’s part of a growing pipeline of Cook Islands aviation talent. Sport momentum: Cook Islands swimmer Jacob Story won gold at the Oceania Championships in Fiji, taking the men’s 100m breaststroke after relocating to Australia for training. Pacific spotlight: Oceania swimming is seeing a shift as Pacific nations like Fiji, Tahiti and Samoa challenge the usual New Zealand/Australia dominance. Travel note: Passport index updates are still moving fast globally—Pakistan’s latest ranking shows visa-free/VOA access including the Cook Islands.

Sister Province Boost: Central Province and the Cook Islands have renewed their long-running friendship with a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement signed by Governor Rufina Peter and Prime Minister Mark Brown at APEC Haus, building on more than 150 years of shared history and aiming to drive cultural exchanges, youth and women’s empowerment, tourism, climate action, agriculture, sports, trade and investment. Regional Sports Momentum: Pacific swimmers are turning heads at the Oceania Championships in Suva, with Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and the Cook Islands helping show the medal gap is closing. Local Talent in the Spotlight: Isabel Drollet Macdonald is on track to become Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot after graduating from Massey University and entering talks with the airline. Travel Reality Check: Passport rankings keep shifting—Sri Lanka is listed at 94th, while Pakistan sits at 100th, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to about 30 destinations.

Pacific Partnerships: Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown and PNG Central Province Governor Rufina Peter have signed a Sister Province Partnership Arrangement at the Melanesian Oceans Summit, formalising cooperation between Rarotonga and Central Province across tourism, cultural exchanges, trade, education, climate action, plus support for women’s empowerment, agriculture, sports, youth and investment. Regional Sport Buzz: Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva saw Pacific swimmers push back against long-time New Zealand and Australia dominance, with Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and the Cook Islands turning in strong performances as the medal gap narrows. Aviation Milestone: Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot is on track—Isabel Drollet Macdonald has qualified through Massey University and is now in talks with the airline. Local Focus: The Ministry of Agriculture marks Plant Health Day, urging farmers, growers, importers and travellers to help stop invasive pests and diseases.

Oceania Swimming Buzz: Pacific swimmers are turning heads at the 14th Oceania Swimming Championships in Suva, with Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa and the Cook Islands pushing back as officials say the long-running New Zealand/Australia gap is closing. Cook Islands Talent Spotlight: Cook Islands swimmer Jacob Story backed the momentum with gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke at the Oceania meet. Aviation Milestone: Isabel Drollet Macdonald is set to become Air Rarotonga’s first female pilot after graduating from Massey University and entering talks with the airline. Regional Links: Prime Minister Mark Brown and PNG’s Central Province governor signed a partnership covering youth, sport, health, fisheries and tourism. Travel Reality Check: A new Henley Passport Index update puts Pakistan at 100th, with visa-free or on-arrival access to about 30 destinations—still including the Cook Islands. Governance Watch: A letter raises fresh concerns about remote leadership at the Airport Authority, arguing it affects public confidence.