Kiwis and the Cooks

I've spent 3 months in New Zealand and 2 months in the Cook Islands.

When I'm in NZ and the subject of a tropical holiday destination comes up in discussions with the locals, I find that the Cook Islands don't seem to rate as high on the list of preferred spots as Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, etc. for most Kiwis.

Any ideas as to why?

I'm surprised to hear that people you met rated Tonga is higher. But Fiji is a lot bigger, and has a lot more resorts, and a lot more flights---and thus some real cheap packages. Lots more money goes into ads in newspapers, on TV, etc.

Tahiti is going on its reputation of the past, but kiwis rarely visit twice, from the ones I've talked to.

I have been to NZ maybe 20 times, and really found it that among most kiwis I met that Fiji was first, Cooks second, Tahiti third, Tonga/Samoa fourth. Also, Bali gets a lot of votes---or at least did until the bombings a few yrs ago.

The Cooks have always been plagued by high int'l airfares, due to Air NZ's mostly monopoly over the yrs. Pacific Blue has really helped cut that, but there is still no non-stop from Australia, for example, which is a larger market than NZ.

I don't think the Cooks could ever really beat the discounted prices of many Fijian resorts. Wages in the Cooks, by law, are about double what they are in Fiji. In fact, you probably noticed a lot of Fijian maids, cleaners, bartenders etc on Rarotonga. They eagerly seek jobs in the Cooks due to higher wages. This has caused a bit of controversy, but in reality a lot of CIers just don't want to work as maids, etc. If they can afford it, they can fly to NZ and work there for much higher wages.

The Cook islands also use the same currency as New Zealand so for some it may seem as if they have not left home.
We have only been there once but go to Fiji 2 or 3 times a year and go to a different island each time.

This is an interesting question.

When I was in the Cooks, I found, as a generalization, that the folks I talked to staying in more mid to high end resorts tended to be from NZ. In the more budget places, it was very international.
I am always surprised not to see more Kiwis in Samoa and I sure did not see many in Tonga. Many more Aussies, but again, I find the tourist atmosphere in Samoa very international with a heavy presence of Germans and Scandinavians.

It's also interesting to experience the attitude of NZers at home... My NZ friends have many times said to me that they don't understand why I would want to go to the Cooks, Samoa or Tonga for a holiday.. They say "Why would you go there when you can go to the Gold Coast, Bali or Phuket?" Going to Pacific islands for holiday was almost perceived as "slumming it" to them. Perhaps to them these little islands are incidental, "backwards and unsophisticated" and not a destination for a holiday... They are so close to these gorgeous, paradise islands and most know astoundingly little about them... The only South Pacific island exposure many folks get is seeing the Manukau neighbourhoods full of Pacific islanders who come to work in Auckland and provide cheap, blue collar labour and the sometimes difficult living problems and social predicaments some of these folks have. Maybe this puts some Kiwis off.

I had the pleasure of attending the "Pasifica" festival in Auckland this past March... It was wonderful. I think many folks in NZ are getting their eyes opened on what wonderous travel destinations these island could be and this can only be a positive step in bridging the misunderstanding gay and promoting tourism.

As a side note, a few years ago, a Canadian airline, Canada 3000 had made the Cooks one of their premier holiday destinations and they made it simple and cheap to get to... Even after their bankruptcy and removal from existance, you will still find many Canadians, esp. older ones, knowledgable about the Cooks because so many had come... Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti are completely off the radar for most Canadians but many do know of the Cook islands.... I wouldn't expect most Canadians to know much about the South Pacific islands... After all, Mexico and the Caribbean are so much closer, easier to get to and much less expensive in the long run. Most Canucks only get 2 or 3 weeks holiday... Packages to here are geared for winter weary N. Americans who just want to come, drink, eat and lie in the sun without a huge airfare and long airline journey.

Very few in the tourism or travel industry here can tell you much about anything in the South Pacific except for perhaps Fiji.

"Samoa? You mean that country in Africa?.. Aren't they having a civil war or something?"

Edited by: islandboi321

As a born and bred aucklander, (the largest Polynesian city in the world), the lure of the pacific was ideal when our daughter was very young for short mid winter holidays, good for the budget and a soft option for a family break.
The cook islands, though not unappealing, are really the sort of destination I might choose in my dotage.
Nz has more beautiful beaches than you can poke a stick at, so unless I was craving some warmth during our short winter, I would certainly prefer to travel further afield to experience totally different cultures, geography and activities.
I certainly don’t think of holidays in the pacific as ‘slumming it’ and manukau city has over 150 different ethnic communities and is not the only area in Auckland with a pacific island population.
The aforementioned daughter went to school in the inner city where palagi were in the minority and she was immersed in Polynesian culture, (all good), so contrary to islanboi’s opinion, I would consider us well informed on the pacific, nz being part of it!
In the industry I work in a large proportion of my colleagues are of pacific island descent, therefore much of their culture rubs of, including eating all those wonderful fish and chop suey dishes.
You would find in many Auckland households, tapa, lava lavas, lei’s etc as much a part of the furnishings as ‘mainstream’ decorations, our climate and geographical position complimenting Polynesia.
Btw, the pasifika festival is only one of many pacific festivals held throughout the year in the city and first took place in 1993.
Having said all this, my sister and welsh brother-in-law who live in Canterbury and are therefore devoid of anything Polynesian and suffer more miserable winters than we in aucks do, are looking forward to 10 days in raro shortly!!

5--
Yes, we got a lot of people from the South Island starting a few yrs ago when Pacific Blue and Air NZ both started non-stop flights from CHC. And one NZ winter when the snows came down hard we got a lot of people all of a sudden, and both CHc flights were full for about three or four weeks. Gotta love that snow if you're in the Cooks' tourism business!

Sheesh I seem to be a contrary person sometimes!

The Cook Islands is becoming much more of a potential tourist destination for many New Zealanders, particularly people who used to go to Fiji regularly for their regular dose of winter sunshine. The Cook Islands are also increasingly becoming a wedding destination - i know of a few people who have had weddings, or second weddings in the Cook Islands. They didn't consider Fiji - perhaps it is also the political situation as well effecting some peoples opinion on travel. I certainly know that NZ travel agents have noticed more people asking about the political situation in Fiji - though it is debatable about whether it actually effects whether they decide to go there.

As for why Samoa or Tonga aren't more popular - i don't know. Perhaps the cost of flights to Tonga are an issue. But perhaps also, the reaction from many Samoan and Tongan people in New Zealand! A lot of Samoans and Tongans I know of have expressed surprise (honest surprise, not false modesty) as to comments about holidaying in each country. I suspect, however, it is partly because going on holiday to a place can be quite different to living there. For them, going home to Samoa (or Tonga) isn't a matter of simply a relaxing holiday - it is a matter of trying to carry 60kgs worth of luggage back to the Islands full of clothes and gifts from various relatives and church people, it is a lot of visiting family and friends back in the Islands etc. That's also spoken from the perspective of a palagi girl, but one who grew up around Porirua in NZ - also a large Maori and Pacific Island community. As for why pakeha New Zealanders don't go there...I don't know.

Edited by: sneaker_fish

I have always gone to Fiji for the last 20 years but we are looking at going to the Cooks next year mainly because you can rent a house on the beach or close by for $600-900 a week something you can not do in Fiji. Flight prices are similar for Fiji and the cooks at about $700NZ but we are getting good deals to Tonga now for $360. which is where we went this year. Why NZ'RS tend to go to Fiji is probably because they know the market better but that will all change with time as more people go to the cooks. I am certainly looking forward to going there next year.

The Cooks are my favourite among the islands. Been to all the others a number of times, including some of the smaller more difficult to access islands such as Nuie, the Solomons etc.. Perhaps its the lure of all inclusive cheapies that make Fiji more appealing to many however I prefer a bit more independance.

8...
I feel that way as well. I hate being led around like a herd of goats.

All you need in the cooks is a scooter, a wave and a smile. After that, things take care of themselves.

The flight times to the Cooks may be an issue as well. We're looking at going but we have a baby (well a 20 month old) and having a lfight arrive at 2.40am and leave at 3.40am are not exactly family friendly!!

The islands are very expensive too for the average kiwi - australia and asia are much cheaper then the islands.

Percoriel - it may not be a lot better but Pacific Blue's flights leave Auckland at 6:15pm (arrive after midnight) so maybe a but nicer. Ditto with the return - bit of a horrid time of 1:20am but arrives at 5:00am.

I tend to agree though, they are not great times and also tend to mean that people either must pay for an extra day/part day in their accommodation or they must leave all their stuff somewhere.

Yes, lots of horrible flight times into the Cooks. The planes are in NZ and can't be used for anything domestically, so they send them up to the Cooks and back in time for domestic use (Air NZ). There was one afternoon arrival last year, on Fridays, and one on Saturdays, they may still exist. They cost a little more, but you do save on an extra night, and can sleep in etc.