Mike Pero grounds his Pasifika Air before takeoff for Cook Islands 14 Apr, 2021 06:00 PM 5 minutes to read Mike Pero has been involved in airlines before. Photo / Getty Images Aviation, tourism and energy writer for the NZ Heraldgrant.bradley@nzherald.co.nz@gbradleynz Real estate identity Mike Pero is parking plans to launch Pasifika Air which he had hoped would be part of a two-way travel bubble with the Cook Islands. He had planned to lease Boeing 737 planes and link Wellington and Christchurch with Rarotonga. But continued uncertainty over the timing of quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and the Cook Islands and the cost of committing to aircraft leases have forced him to shelve plans.