Organize your move to the Cook Islands

Julie · 2011-10-20 15:36:56

Hi all,

we invite you to share your experience about moving to the Cook Islands.

Here is a list of questions which might help the ones preparing their move to the Cook Islands:

What would you bring and what would you leave behind?

Is it a good idea to bring furniture or domestic appliances?

Any foodstuffs that are banned in the Cook Islands?

Is it better to bring a car or to buy one once settled in the Cook Islands?

Any advice for the ones who are moving to the Cook Islands?

Thank you in advance for your participation smile

magnus · 2012-03-29 10:53:35

I understand this question as a "global question" and really one must take into consideration where one moves from......

Bringing containers from New Zealand or Eastern Australia will be alot less costly then to ship containers from Europe and one should probably take that consideration when moving. Perhaps it is cheaper to choose those things your really want to keep and have emotional value to you and ship them by air then to pay huge amounts of money and waiting half a year to get your container.

Also consider when shipping by sea that things that are shipped by sea should be "Oceanic packaged". It is a special kind of plastic bag that the things should be wrapped in. When it becomes closed a gas will emit to protect it from sea salt. All things with metal and electronics, should be wrapped if you want to be sure it is going to be in a good shape at arrival.... Even cars.

If you do bring your car you can do it but in order to avoid taxes/custom fees you must make sure it is not completly new when you move. I dont remember but think it needs to be at least 1 year old. Have to check up on this.

To bring furnitures or not. Well, it depends on your budget. There are good furniture to buy in the CI so ship furniture if there is really something special that you dont want to loose.

Domestic appliances..... Make sure they run on 220-250V. The Wall plugs in CI is the same as in the UK. Bring a cutting plyer, a cable threader, an Ohm meter and some screw drivers and buy loose cable connectors locally to convert your electrical appliances to work in the Cook Islands.

Banned products/things in Cook Islands:

Do not, ever ever ever bring any plants or seeds to Cook Islands. Cook Islands is very stringent about the Eco-system and don't want it affected by new plants or plant sicknesses from other countries. There is very high fines.

If you move to Aitutaki, please remember that dogs are banned there. There are no dogs at all on Aitutaki. I do not know if one can get permission if the dog is castrated.

Cook Islands have a ban on GMO / Genetically Modified Foods.

Fruit, Meat and Livestock can only be imported from New Zealand.
I do not know if there is more food bans.

There is a ban on pornographic materials (if it is import or export is unclear from Cook Islands Customs website).

Guns, bullets, cartridges, explosives and ammunition are prohibited from being imported and exported unless granted permission from the Minister of Police.

Armand · 2012-03-29 11:46:37

Hi magnus!

Thanks a lot for your help!

Armand

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Organize your move to the Cook Islands

#1 2011-10-20 15:36:56

Organize your move to the Cook Islands

#2 2012-03-29 10:53:35

Re: Organize your move to the Cook Islands

#3 2012-03-29 11:46:37

Re: Organize your move to the Cook Islands

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