The announcement of migrant workers from Fiji has come as welcome news to staff strapped Cook Islands businesses that are heading into peak tourism season.

The owner of The Islander Hotel, Rohan Ellis said he was dealing with “terrible” staff levels at the moment.

Staff are currently on a full rotation and Ellis said the hotel was looking to get migrant workers from Fiji and Bali to fill in the gaps.

“The response out of Fiji has been fantastic, we’re now just focused on getting them here,” Ellis said.

Air New Zealand announced on Friday, the Air New Zealand Fiji Labour Movement Support flights that will bring much-needed workers into the country.

The airline is offering an exclusive airfare of NZ$726 per person (excluding taxes) for travel from Fiji to the Cook Islands with transit Auckland between May 1 and June 30 with a maximum of 40 passengers per flight.

Cook Islands Public Service Commissioner Carl Hunter said to date, there are only two ministries in the process of recruiting from Fiji, namely the Ministry of Health and Infrastructure Cook Islands.

Mr Hunter said the Health Ministry was in the process of recruiting a couple more doctors and four registered nurses from Fiji, making use of the special offer by Air NZ.

Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj