Prepare dinner Islands go ‘again to fundamentals’ as COVID-19 tourism halt returns nation to less complicated occasions

Shortly before the pandemic, Charlotte Piho lived a dream island life, practicing yoga on a stand-up paddle board and taking turtle and eagle ray tours in the crystal clear waters off Rarotonga.

Important points:

• Cook Islands tour guide Charlotte Piho says border closings have caused residents to take stock and become more self-sustaining
• The islands have not recorded a single case of COVID-19
• Ms. Piho would like her country to be reopened to international tourists to support the local economy

Their Cook Islands business boomed and diversified when international travel stalled.

Ms. Piho says the sudden change hit the pause button on her already quiet island, but while the tourism dollar disappearance hurt, there are still positive stories to be found.

“After a period of shock, people seem to evolve, look at the situation and make the best of it,” she said.

“It was great to see people living off the land, relieving themselves less of commercial products and making less plastic by buying less food.

“Everyone has returned to the basics of pre-tourism in the Cook Islands.

“We planted everything in our house and now we have vegetables and things that we have never had before with COVID.”

Charlotte Piho combines her love for marine life and photography in her work in the Cook Islands. (

Delivered: Peter Marsters

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Improve credentials

Ms. Piho made the most of the past year by continuing her education in marine biology and studying how to improve the environment in which she works.

She says the work now done will mean she and other tourism companies can come back with greener businesses.

“I looked at the coral gardens and ways to oxygenate the animals and to do a lot of cleaning on the beach,” said Ms. Piho.

“It is a good time to educate yourself, slow down and see what we are doing as operators. When things open up, we can do them in a way that is non-polluting, sustainable and environmentally friendly.

“I know a lot better about the sea and the ways to take care of myself and my family.”

Ms. Piho says Cook Islands residents focused on self-sustaining lifestyles during the COVID-19 pandemic. (

ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale

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The waiting game

The Cook Islands haven’t recorded a single case of COVID-19, and Ms. Piho says the country is now losing some of its residents who had to leave to find work.

Ms. Piho spent much of the pandemic at home and waited for the tourist situation to change.

With the Trans Tasman Bubble now open, she is using her New Zealand passport (her mother is a Kiwi) to do ocean photography work in Australia – mostly Wollongong and Sydney – while waiting for tourists to return.

Ms. Piho says it is “sad” that the Cook Islands have not been included in international tourism debates.

“People say they don’t want to hurt them [Cook Islands residents] and just to protect them, the Cook Islands won’t even be eligible until Australians and New Zealanders travel safely, “she said.

“I’ve waited a year for tourists to come back and now I guess I’ll have to wait for it to open and make the most of the situation instead of waiting.”