Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown is coming to New Zealand next week as the first international leader to visit since COVID-19 forced the borders shut.
Cook Islands residents are able to travel to New Zealand without quarantining on arrival as the islands are considered COVID-19-free.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Monday she was "pleased" to announce what she regards as a "significant" visit.
"While we have personally met before in the Cook Islands, I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Brown on his first visit to New Zealand."
Ardern says a "range of issues" will be on the agenda with COVID-19 vaccine roll-out, and the impact of a lack of tourism for the Cook Islands being top priorities.
"The impact of a lack of tourism full stop for the Cook Islands has been significant, so no doubt that we'll be talking about that together," she said.
The Cook Islands have been desperate to open a travel bubble with New Zealand to offer relief to struggling tourism businesses that rely on international tourists.
In January Brown said the two governments were working to open the dual air bridge by the end of March. New Zealand's recent COVID-19 outbreaks hampering progress.
Ardern says it's important to be cautious, telling Magic Talk in October: "There is [a] concern because, of course, they are COVID-free - and any COVID coming into Pacific countries would be particularly devastating."
But despite the bubble being a desperate need economically for the island nation Ardern says COVID-19 vaccine roll-out will be at the top of the agenda.
"Regardless of what movements we experience that's [the vaccine] something that can provide an extra buffer against risk."
The two leaders also plan to talk about what the next 12 months as a whole will look like for the two countries.
Brown will be staying in New Zealand from March 25 to April 3.
