Overview

Service providers are almost exclusively based on the main island of Rarotonga. The outer Islands have basic health and telecommunications providers but little more. Due to the country’s relatively small commercial population there are not always multiple providers however most services an agency might require are available in the main centre of Avaru., As a result of catering to the large numbers of international tourists that visit the country and its close association with NZ, the quality of available services is good and up-to-date.

For more information on company contact details, please see the following link: 4.11 Additional Services Contact List 

Accommodation

There is an abundance of accommodation options on the main Island of Rarotonga ranging from high-end resorts to bungalow Air BnB’s. Standards are high and security is not a problem. Of the outer islands, only Aitutaki has many motels and several larger resorts, generally as any of the outer islands’ resident population decreases, so do the corresponding accommodation options, however all islands have sufficient vacant private houses and large community halls to support a short-term influx of demand.

Electricity and Power

Voltage is 240V

On the main island of Rarotonga electricity is generated, distributed and retailed by Te Aponga Uira (TAU) a State owned Enerprise (SOE) The power utility provides 90% of Rarotonga’s electricity demand. All households on Rarotonga have access to the grid. Its goal is the conversion to renewably sourced (solar) electricity by 2020.

With 5 diesel generators @ 1.6Mw per engine the grid can produce a total 8Mw if needed. At present average daily fuel usage is 20,000L and 1.5 months of fuel stocks are kept in reserve.Current local peak demand is 5 Mw/ Daily. Additionally (at peak) there is a 4.1Mw Photo Voltaic (PV) system located at Rarotonga Airport plus privately owned generators.

Outages are not common, at most two a year, due to an engine fault or an HV cable fault. Once the cause of the outage is discovered it takes about 2-3 hours to get all households back on line. 

There are plans to get distribution lines underground, particularly to safeguard the assets during cyclones, however due to the high cost involved there is no timeline set for this.

The Outer Islands will all be self reliant on solar power to every household by the end of 2019. This project was donor funded under administrative guidence of The Office Of The Prime Minister. Once completed the generation equipment and distribution infrastructure is the property and responsibility of the individual Governing Island Councils. Conversion of distribution lines to underground is ongoing. The existing diesel generators are being kept and maintained by the Island Councils’ as back up.

Energy is currently the only infrastructure sub-sector with a regulating commissioner overseeing the performance of the service provider.

Financial Service Providers

The Cook Islands are well served by mainstream financial services, banks, accountants and insurance companies. An organisation can expect to find all economic services they may require.

ANZ Bank

ANZ Bank is an international banking institution established in Cook Islands since 1988, represented by two branches in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, 6 ATMs, four outer island agencies, and an extensive EFTPOS network. Their staff are bilingual and trained to assist both local and foreign customers with a wide range of personal and commercial banking and investment requirements.

As well as providing a range of financial services, ANZ Cook Islands is able to provide advice on investment opportunities, handle trade inquiries and assist in introductions on behalf of customers interested in doing business in the Cook Islands.

Bank of the South Pacific

Bank Of The South Pacific (BSB) initially commenced trading as a branch of the National Bank of Australasia Limited Port Moresby, in 1957; through acquisitions of branches of other banks (Wespac and others) it is now represented in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa.

Bank of the Cook Islands

Bank of The Cook Islands (BCI) is a State Owned Enterprise established in 2001. It has the largest branch-banking network in the Cook Islands (7 branches including the Head Office in Avarua).

Clearing and Forwarding Agents

There are a number of experienced and efficient clearing and forwarding agents available in Rarotonga. They are generally reliable and are located in Avarua, adjacent to the port area.

Handling Equipment

There is sufficient supply of handling equipment available to cope with current demand and a surge demand if required. There is equipment owned by the Port’s Authority (Government Agency) that is kept at the port and additionally there are private contractors that would lease or hire equipment as necessary to assist with an organisations needs. There is a reasonable supply of good quality pallets available and more could be accessed from cargo vessels if required.

On the Outer Islands the Island Councils’ all have some construction equipment that can be used for lifting and transporting cargo.

Postal and Courier Services

International courier companies including DHL and FEDX are available on Rarotonga. Their services are reliable and operate to international standards.

Cook Islands Post operates mail and parcel delivery service in the Cook Islands delivering to communities and businesses. Services include express mail service (New Zealand only), flypost (placing flyers in the post boxes), permit post service (franking service), assurance service (registered mail) and postal boxes. Bluesky, a State Owned Enterprise (SOE) is the agency that handles collection and distribution services.

On the Outer Islands, Bluesky offices on each island handle the collection and distribution of mail for their respective islands and forward or receive the mail from Cook Islands Post. The Ministry Of Finance and Economic Management and Office Of the Prime Minister have a joint responsibility for oversight of this sector (Telecommunications, Communications).

Further information on postage rates, postal services and deposit locations can be found at: http://www.telecom.co.ck/content/page/cook-islands-post/m/122/

See also Annex 5.7 Cook Islands Postal Costs

Printing and Publishing

There are a number of printing and publishing companies on Rarotonga that are all capable of producing quality work using the latest technologies. They are all readily available and located in the main centre of Avarua.

Taxi Companies

There are a number of taxi companies operating on Rarotonga; most have only 1 or 2 vehicles. There is a bus service run by a private company that leaves every hour and half-hour to circumnavigate the island. Speed limit on the island is 40km/hour, which keeps road travel generally safe.

Vehicle Rental

There is an abundance of rental vehicles available and an organisation should expect to be able to satisfy their requirements given there is likely to be very little demand from tourists in the aftermath of a disaster occurring in the region.

Waste Management and Disposal Services

Infrastructure Cook Islands (ICI) oversees waste management and disposal. Collection of kerbside waste is tendered to private contractors. This service is free of charge to domestic dwellings. Commercial activities are required to pay for collection. Initial sorting for recycling is carried out kerbside and further sorting at the landfill site. The landfill is close to capacity so further sorting is occurring at the landfill into waste that can be incinerated while other waste is re-compacted to prolong the life of the facility. Further excavation will be required in the future.

Outer Islands’ waste management is the responsibility of the individual Island Councils. Apart from Aitutaki where there is a more comprehensive management program, all waste goes to landfill with little or no sorting. Most of these councils are reviewing their policies on this and working toward educating the local inhabitants on waste minimisation strategies.

Waste Disposal Non-Hazardous

As above. Non-hazardous waste is disposed of either by incineration if practical or otherwise to landfill.

Waste Disposal Hazardous

The private contractor who manages the recycling operation also collects hazardous waste (such as e-waste) and it is transported in shipping containers out of the country. Waste oil is stored in barrels then also shipped off the island. All sewerage on the main island of Rarotonga is collected in septic tanks, which are then emptied and transported by tanker to settling and sedimentation ponds managed by ICI. Grey water from the ponds goes to surface as irrigation. De-watered sludge eventually goes to landfill. On the smaller, less populous outer islands, septic waste goes to drainage pits.

Disclaimer: Inclusion of company information in the LCA does not imply any business relationship between the supplier and WFP / Logistics Cluster, and is used solely as a determinant of services, and capacities.

Please note: WFP / Logistics Cluster maintain complete impartiality and are not in a position to endorse, comment on any company's suitability as a reputable service provider.