Islands shrug off Meena's fury

A New Zealand Defence Force Hercules C-130 with cyclone relief supplies and aid for the Cook Islands remains on offer but the Cooks say it is not needed yet.

Cyclone Meena hit the Cook Islands early yesterday, with heavy seas and winds up to 245km/h, but the damage was not as bad as feared as Meena turned away just hours before it would have hit with full force.

The island of Rarotonga and the main centre, Avarua, felt the worst of the storm, with the sea battering coastal property.

A spokesman for New Zealand Foreign Minister Phil Goff said the Hercules flight, which could have flown as early as yesterday, was still a possibility.

"The Cooks have said to us ... that their initial assessments suggested that they would be able to manage ... without outside help," James Funnell said.

"Obviously we remain on standby ... the offer remains on the table."

He said reports suggested the damage was limited.

"It sounds like the Cooks took it all pretty seriously right from the start and everything was battened down as well as could be."

Mr Funnell did not believe New Zealand's High Commission in Avarua had been damaged.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the office had shut down for the day.

"They're just sorting out and tidying up. We've heard from them during the day and they'll be back on deck tomorrow."

The ministry did not have a count of numbers of New Zealanders holidaying in the Cooks.

Earlier today, Cook Islands Tourism Minister Piho Rua said tourist accommodation had been largely unaffected and the clean-up should not take more than three or four days.

Electricity, communications and air travel were also back to normal.

- NZPA