Covid-19 update: 215 community cases in New Zealand today
Most fully-vaccinated travellers into New Zealand will not need to go through managed isolation from early next year.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris has been joined by Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield who will have the latest on Covid-19 cases around the motu.
Watch the announcement here:
Hipkins said fully vaccinated New Zealanders will be able to travel from Australia without having to quarantine from 16 January. Foreign nationals follow from April onwards.
A mandatory seven day self-isolation period will still be in place for people not required to enter MIQ.
From 11.59pm on 16 January 2022, fully vaccinated New Zealanders and other eligible travellers can travel to New Zealand from Australia without staying in managed isolation or quarantine, Hipkins says.
From 11.59pm on 13 February, fully vaccinated New Zealanders and other eligible travellers can travel to New Zealand from all other countries.
From 30 April, fully vaccinated foreign travellers can travel to New Zealand. This will happen in a staged way, Hipkins said.
This will be one of the final steps in opening, he said.
Hipkins said New Zealand was now in a position to start moving back to normality, with a reminder that travel in 2022 will still be different.
Travellers will have to have negative pre-departure test, be fully vaccinated, a declaration of full travel history, test on arrival and at end of self-isolation period.
He said this announcement gives families, businesses, airports and others the time to prepare.
“It’s very encouraging that we as a country are now in a position to move towards greater normality. I do want to emphasise though that travel in 2022 won’t necessarily be exactly the same as it was in pre-2020 travel.”
Hipkins also revealed the ‘Very High-Risk’ classification for Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed early next month.
The traffic light system will come into effect for the whole country at 11.59pm Thursday 2 December.
The 7 day home quarantine makes it a hassle. Does the 7 day home quarantine apply to everyone? I’m a bit confused. For example if my parents went over to see my bro and his family, they’d be able to stay with them in their home for 7 days? Or if my bro and his family came here they’d have to do 7 days when they get back?
It is really confusing but from what I can read only New Zealand citizens can travel and that tourists won’t be allowed back until April. Are your parents New Zealand Citizens?
January 16 is close to the end of school holidays in Australia as well, so Kiwis living in Australia can only bring their kids to NZ for a short family reunion before returning back across the ditch, if they are not deterred by the 7-day home quarantine period.
I would almost urge people to travel to australia for Christmas and return when the borders open. It would be a great opportunity for tourism Australia
Farcical. Too rigid, too slow. This government seems to be operating on a 2020 slope when the rest of the world has moved on.
No they aren’t. My brother and his wife moved to New Zealand in March. They have since had another baby. My parents intended visiting with the travel bubble but that all disappeared and we were hoping they could come over for Christmas. I was wondering if my parents would be able to go over there, as I’m sure they’d be happy staying with them a week to spend time with their new grandhcild but it doesn’t seem like that’s possible until April.
Yep. Setting a date in April for no quarantine seems ridiculous. What’s it based on? New Zealand are close to 90% fully vaxxed. I can’t see what changes in 5 months time to make it anymore safe.
Would they consider coming to Australia? Or is that a little hard with work commitments and a new child? It seems like it will be ok for New Zealanders to leave and come back but for no one else to come in.
It will be interesting to see if the delayed opening of Australian-NZ border will affect the competition schedule of A-League’s Wellington Phoenix and NBL’s NZ Breakers. They are keen to play at home in front of their adoring fans, but have to stay in Australia due to the current border closure.
Especially weird since the virus is already circulating in New Zealand anyway?
Yep. MIQ made sense as a preventative measure. Now it is cruel.