New Zealand has revealed its five-step reopening plan, which allows in international tourists from October, and discontinues Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) for vaccinated travellers on arrival.
The country’s border will first reopen to fully vaccinated nationals returning from Australia from 23h59 on February 27. This is the start of Phase 1.
For vaccinated travellers, isolation at home is still mandatory for a period of 10 days from arrival. Unvaccinated travellers and those deemed by the Government to be ‘high risk’ will have to endure MIQ, in facilities run by the New Zealand Armed Forces.
New Zealanders from countries other than Australia will be allowed entry from March 13, the start of Phase 2, at which point the length of home isolation for the vaccinated will be reduced to seven days.
Skilled workers earning at least 1,5 times the median wage in New Zealand will also be able to enter the country from this date, as will those with Working Holiday Scheme visas.
“This will supply urgently needed workers for the tourism, hospitality, wine and horticultural sectors as well as providing some much-needed visitor spending.”
From 23h59 on April 12, New Zealand will open to offshore temporary visa holders and no more than 5 000 international students as part of Phase 3.
From this date, further class exceptions for critical workforces that may not meet the ‘1,5 times the median wage’ test will be considered.
By July, inbound travel may resume for Australian nationals, and travellers from countries for which New Zealand doesn’t require visas, signalling the beginning of Phase 4.
In October, the border “fully reopens to visitors from anywhere in the world, and all visa categories fully reopen”, which is part of Phase 5 – the final step.
All travellers will be provided with three rapid antigen tests on their arrival in New Zealand – one for use on day 0/1, and one for use on day 5/6, with one extra for back-up.
Lottery of human misery
New Zealand’s closed border policy was said to be popular at home, but Kiwis overseas found it very difficult to get home for any reason at all. Many found themselves simply locked out as the enormous demand for MIQ spots, which were assigned only to a much smaller number of individuals than applied. It was compared to a lottery in opposition political circles, and named the "lottery of human misery".
Vaccine mandates have been imposed by Air New Zealand, Qantas, Virgin Australia and other airlines, so unvaccinated travellers will have a hard time reaching New Zealand at all.
Currently, 94% of New Zealand’s population is fully vaccinated, and 92% of citizens over the age of 18 will be eligible for a vaccine booster dose by the end of February.
“By the time we start to reopen our border, we’ll be one of the most vaccinated and most boosted countries in the world,” a press release from the government states.
“Isolation requirements will be kept under constant review, and we do expect them to reduce,” the government adds.
Michi Messner, Qantas Regional Manager Africa, said it was an exciting development that New Zealand now had announced a five-step plan to opening up to the world. “The demand from South Africa for New Zealand is predominantly VFRs. Qantas expects demand for New Zealand to pick up quickly to pre-COVID levels. The trans-Tasman route is a very important one for the airline.”
