The nation’s only public elevator is back in action, but what exactly caused it to fail has contactors stumped.

Yesterday, Cook Islands Investment Corporation (CIIC) confirmed the lift at the Ministry of Justice and Court House building was again operational following a visit from a Phoenix Elevators technician from New Zealand.

CIIC confirmed the $600,000 lift was again in operation on Tuesday after breaking down before Christmas, just over a month after being officially opened.     

“While the lift is functioning now as required, exactly what caused the failure in the first place is yet to be confirmed by Phoenix Elevators,” a CIIC spokesperson said.

CIIC general manager of asset development, Anne Taoro added: “While a number of possible scenarios have been put forward, we’ll have to wait until we get the full report from New Zealand. The technician’s initial assessment is that the fault was associated with the lift’s sensors.”

The cost to remedy the issue is covered under warranty and Taoro apologised for any inconvenience caused by the lift being out of action.

The passenger lift was officially opened in November after an earlier completion date was projected for August, 2023.

The construction of the country’s first public passenger elevator took nine months, following two years of planning.

The contractor is Phoenix Elevators Limited, and the lift has an 18-month defect liability period, requiring the contractor to remedy any manufacture and installation issues.

In November 2021, early consultations concluded that an enclosed passenger lift be constructed, together with appropriate fit-for-purpose toilet facilities.

In February 2022, the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the lift was held.

At the elevator’s official opening, CIIC Minister Albert Nicholas said the Ministry of Justice building in Rarotonga had finally addressed major accessibility issues to public services and to the justice system, and accessibility of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, particularly the infirm, elderly, and disabled.

The problem had existed since the building was completed in 2004 and since then the Government and the wider community, including the Cook Islands National Disability Council, had voiced their concerns about the lack of easy and safe access to the building by its members, Nicholas said at the time.

A week ago, a CIIC spokesperson confirmed the elevator was out of action. CIIC with Ministry of Justice staff were working with the contractor and the supplier to remedy the issue, by “systematically working through thorough diagnostic assessments”.

“We are hopeful that in the next few days, the issue will be diagnosed and the issue remedied,” the spokesperson told Cook Islands News last week.

The Ministry of Justice building has been plagued with problems over the years. In October 2023, Cook Islands News observed a significant area of the public foyer closed, with multiple buckets spread across the floor.

Late last year, roof waterproofing works, an entrance roof extension and new toilets were completed. The scope of works included cleaning all external windows, doors and skylight sealants and applying new, as well as replacing 3000 rusted screws that contributed to the leaks throughout the building.