The Punanga Nui Market (PNM) will be open and almost back to normal with all vendors permitted to trade from this Saturday, August 28 onwards – with appropriate public health measures in place.

As per the Ministerial Order currently put in place by Health Ministry Te Marae Ora, events and gatherings attended by more than 100 people require an exemption from the Secretary of Health.

That exemption has been granted for the Punanga Nui Market with the following conditions:

• CookSafe tag-in stations will be located at each entrance and every person who enters the market will be encouraged to either tag-in using their CookSafe card or complete the manual registration form
• Everyone in attendance should be practicing public health measures regarding good hand hygiene and taking care when coughing and sneezing to do so into their elbow
• Physical distancing is also required – people should keep two metres apart or wear masks where that is not practical.

The PNM will be easing restrictions and allowing all vendors – including art, crafts, clothing and others in addition to food and produce – to continue their mode of business at the market this Saturday. However, to ensure the safety of our vendors and the public, the conditions set out above will be strongly encouraged.

Yesterday the market manager was in the process of ensuring signs were clearly set up and visible to identify entry and exit points, tag-in locations and closed-off areas.

The CookSafe tag-in stations and manual registration forms will be located on the western side of the Avatiu Bridge next to the Maroro Fish Hut, with another station located in front of the Punanga Nui office across from The Bond Store.

All vendors and customers are hereby advised to please tag in at one of these entry points before continuing into the PNM area.

There will be a single one-way only vehicle entrance for vendors and customers located next to the Avatiu Bridge, with all vehicles required to exit via the Taua Terevete area at Constitution Park. The entrance into the market selling area and loading bays between Mareko and the main roadside will be closed to all vehicles from 8am.

Parking as usual will be available at the back of the market next to the Avatiu Stream or in Constitution Park.

The walkthrough across the Avatiu Shortcut Bridge behind the market will be closed off, as well as the playground area and also the four-shortcut entrance archway from the Ruatonga meeting house and main road.

The Constitution Park entrance will also be closed to the general public except for drive-through access to Te Marae Ora Covid-19 testing station.

Punanga Nui Market manager William Taripo said it would be good to see all the usual market vendors back in action this Saturday and hopes that everyone can abide by the public health conditions as specified by Te Marae Ora.

“These requests have been put in place for good reason – to protect everyone in our Cook Islands community – and if it means we can all still enjoy a morning out at the market every Saturday then I think we owe it to each other to play it safe, abide by the requests and follow the expert advice of our public health professionals at Te Marae Ora.”

• Jaewynn McKay/CIIC