Australia’s Pacific Coordinator in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Crisis Preparedness and Management Branch, Angela Johnson, visited Rarotonga last week to enhance cooperation on crisis response and consular planning.

The visit focused on enhancing mutual understanding and sharing best practices in managing regional emergencies and consular challenges, the Australian High Commission to the Cook Islands said in a statement.

Johnson met with senior officials from the Cook Islands Government as well as tourism industry operators to discuss preparedness strategies, lessons learned from past natural disasters, and future collaboration opportunities.

Susannah Hodson, Australian High Commissioner to the Cook Islands, said: “The visit has been an excellent opportunity for the Australian Government to build our understanding of Cook Islands systems, and to share our contingency planning around natural disasters.”

“This cooperation is more important than ever given the growing number of Australian tourists who enjoy holidaying in Cook Islands each year.”

Hodson also highlighted the value of proactive planning.

“The best time to prepare for a crisis is when things are calm. That’s when we can think clearly, build strong systems, and foster the relationships that will carry us through when the pressure is on.”

The visit builds on recent high-level dialogues between Cook Islands and Australia, including cooperation on maritime security and climate resilience, and is underpinned by Australia’s ongoing commitment under the ‘Oa Tumanava Partnership.

“By working closely with our Pacific partners, we can ensure faster, more coordinated responses that protect our citizens and strengthen resilience across the region” said High Commissioner Hodson. AHC