New Zealand will start reopening its borders, allowing the return of displaced residents from January and tourists from April, the government announced on Wednesday.
New Zealand’s Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said New Zealanders stranded in Australia could return home from mid-January and Kiwis travelling from elsewhere would be allowed in a month later. However, the foreign nationals have to wait until the end of April under the blueprint for a phased reopening unveiled by the government.
“We acknowledge it’s been tough, but the end of heavily restricted travel is now in sight,” Hipkins told reporters.
New Zealand imposed strict border restrictions in March 2020 when the pandemic began, effectively banning tourists and requiring returning residents to spend two weeks in a quarantine hotel run by the military. Often, the strict restrictions caused the displaced residents to wait months for available slots as the demand for quarantine beds has far outstripped supply.
The strict border measures were considered vital in keeping New Zealand free from the virus.
Fully vaccinated New Zealanders could return from Australia without staying in quarantine from January 16 and other countries after February 13.
“There continues to be a global pandemic, with case numbers surging in Europe and other parts of the world,” Hipkins added. “So, we need to be careful about reopening our border. That’s what we’re doing and what we’ve always done.”
He also added that India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Fiji and Brazil would be struck off the list of very-high-risk countries from next month so that their nationals would be eligible to fly to New Zealand from April 30.
New Zealand announced earlier this week that bars, restaurants and gyms could reopen in Auckland from December 2.
About 69% of New Zealanders are fully vaccinated, including 84% of 12 and over. New Zealand has reported just 40 coronavirus deaths since the pandemic began.
