Air New Zealand’s decision to ask customers to get ready for international travel by getting vaccinated has received a mixed reaction from Cook Islanders.

From February 1, 2022, the airline will require all customers travelling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated.

The policy applies to all customers aged 18 and over travelling internationally on the airline’s network.

Customers who are not vaccinated will be required to present proof that vaccination was not a viable option for them for medical reasons.

Cook Islander Lynette Taramai shared her views regarding the mandatory administration of the vaccine as a requirement to travel with Air New Zealand.  

“That is their decision and if it’s stated in their policy that we all can get access to read it then so be it,” Taramai said.

“At the end of the day it comes down to personal choice and human rights.

“For an airline to only accept vaccinated passengers and passengers with a medical exemption to fly on their planes … it is what it is.

“Money talks and if Air New Zealand is supporting the elite and the push for the vaccine, then the Cook Islands in the future may or may not lose many tourists and Cook Islanders who are unvaccinated wanting to visit the Cooks or family,” she said.

Another Cook Islander, who wished not to be named, believes that Air New Zealand is crossing a line by taking away that element of choice when it comes to the vaccine.

“It’s almost like they are forcing us to take it, but it is what it is,” the person said.

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In a statement, Air New Zealand’s chief executive officer Greg Foran said: “We’re getting ready to reconnect with the world and letting customers know what they need to do to be ready to take off when we can.”

“Being vaccinated against Covid-19 is the new reality of international travel, many of the destinations Kiwis want to visit are already closed to unvaccinated visitors.

“As with anything, there will be some that disagree, however, we know this is the right thing to do to protect our people, our customers and the wider New Zealand community.

“We’ll spend the next few months making sure we get this right, ensuring it works as smoothly as possible for our customers. This also gives anyone wanting to travel from next year plenty of time to get their vaccination.

“There’s still a lot to work through but there will be some exceptions to this policy, including those with medical exceptions and those under 18 years.”

Air New Zealand said it had been hearing from both customers and employees its vaccination decision was important to them.

“It came through loud and clear in our recent consultation process with employees and we want to do everything we can to protect them.

“Mandating vaccination on our international flights will give both customers and employees the peace of mind that everyone onboard meets the same health requirements as they do,” Foran said.

Foran described having everyone on board international flights vaccinated as “another tool in our toolbox” in combating the global pandemic.

To take some of the friction out of the travel experience with the introduction of this new requirement and to help customers become familiar with what else they exactly need to travel and before even getting to the airport, the airline is continuing to work on rolling out the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Travel Pass App.

The app ensures that all passengers are meeting entry requirements for that destination, and the airline by checking customers’ health information against flight details.

Passengers have discretion as to whether they share their data or not and they can delete their data at any time on the app, without fear of this being stored.

This is due to the app being based on decentralised technology which means there is no central database holding passenger information, the airline said.

The airline is also continuing to work closely with the New Zealand Government and airport groups on the Reconnecting New Zealanders plan.