Government assistance could be on the way for a struggling Cook Islands public service.

Prime Minister Mark Brown has welcomed discussions on alleviating cost pressures in the land transport and domestic shipping sectors.

Brown said he would be open to see what level of support would be required to assist Cooks’ Islands Bus Passenger Transport, specifically in serving its school services for Rarotonga students.

His comments have received a warm reception from Cooks’ Island Bus Passenger Transport manager Danny Cook as the operation has been forced to hike fares across its network from January 1, 2024.

Significant price increases across the board, including a recent $0.30 spike for a litre of diesel, had put pressure on the fleet of buses, staffed by 18.

In a face-to-face interview with Cook Islands News on Thursday, Brown said he saw it as a similar situation to domestic shipping where government was stepping in to try and provide better services and alleviate cost pressures.

“This is something I would welcome looking at as well; particularly with transportation for kids to school, something we can take a little bit of a cost of, in terms of households,” Brown said.

“I would welcome some discussion on that, to see what level of government support would be required to be able to support Cooks’ Buses with providing this service.

“I’d be happy to look at it, in considering some form of support for school transport.”

Cook said Brown’s comments were a step forward for the business and the people of Rarotonga.

“It is definitely good news.”

Cooks’ Island Bus Passenger Transport had developed an electronic ticketing system with government assistance which was ready to go online, Cook said.

It could assist in providing government with reports, in terms of subsidies, he said.   

“If they (government) are willing to subsidise students, then it might put more of them on the bus, the more we get on, the more it helps to take the pressure away.

“With our electronic ticketing system which we got through grants from government, we can keep track of things.”  

Cooks’ Island Bus Passenger Transport has been operational for more than 30 years and provides public transport at a subsidised rate to locals, while providing a service for visitors, including charters, and a school service for students on Rarotonga.     

Early this week, Cook told this newspaper that his company does not receive any subsidies, and at a bare minimum, government could look into subsidising fuel costs, so the company could look at maintaining local rates.

Locals/workers currently have the option of a $20 ten ride concession, but that will no longer be available from January 1 when they will be offered contactless bus cards – fares will be then deducted at $2.50 a ride.

Other changes include the cessation of $19 student ten ride concessions, which will also be replaced with contactless bus cards – fares deducted at $2 per ride.

Visitors will also be hit with price increases with adult and child ten ride concessions going up to $35 and $25 respectively.

Visitor adult and child return passes will no longer be available.