Our Scans · Cook Islands · Weekly Summary

• Officials in Samoa, Cook Islands and Fiji have warned citizens against panic buying and hoarding. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
• The economic potential of seabed polymetallic nodules in the Cook Islands has been overstated. Greenpeace Aotearoa
• Indigenous leaders of New Zealand, Tahiti and the Cook Islands signed a historic treaty that recognizes whales as legal persons in a move conservationists believe will apply pressure to national governments to offer greater protections for the large mammals. DNyuz
• With supply disruption in New Zealand, the main trade partner of the Cook Islands, and effects on commodity markets from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, costs have risen for transportation, dairy products, and other imported food items. Asian Development Bank
• The Cook Islands' nascent economic recovery could unwind if further impacts from the pandemic delay the revival of its tourism industry. Newsroom
• The following countries pose elevated risks for travelers: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Cook Islands, Cuba, Guyana, the Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, New Caledonia, Pakistan, Samoa, Sudan, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. Vax-Before-Travel
• The recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue could be compounded by another potential embassy in Vanuatu, which the United States is currently negotiating to open. The Week UK
• The Cook Islands is a small, narrow, and open economy, making it susceptible to various types of disruptions. Asian Development Bank

Last updated: 20 June 2026