NZ Ends Self Isolation For Fully Vaxxed Kiwi Travellers

February 28th, 2022
Signs are that NZ’s borders will be open for Australian visitors by winter. Photo by Mark Watson

Mountainwatch | Reggae Elliss

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon that from Wednesday 11.59pm fully vaccinated travellers from Australia will no longer need to self-isolate for a week.

The decision on Trans-Tasman travel only applies to New Zealand citizens and residents and others who are legible under current border settings. The border will reopen for Kiwis returning from anywhere from Friday.

All incoming travellers will be required to have a positive result from a pre-departure test and RAT tests we be required on arrival and on Day 5. Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will still have to go into isolation on arrival.

 

Hands up if you’re keen to hit Treble Cone this year. Photo: Mark Clinton

New Zealand has a five-step plan to reopen its boarders and today’s announcement applies to steps one and two, both of which have been brought forward due to New Zealand’s high vaccination numbers and advice that the Omicron variant will peak in mid-March.

“Once we have come down the peak, we’ve seen our hospital system is on an even footing, that will be when we can consider things like further reopening of the border,” Prime Minister Ardern said.

Step 4 of NZ’s reopening includes opening borders for Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and other foreign nationals travelling from Australia. Originally that was slated for July, but at today’s press conference Prime Minister Ardern said cabinet will review the timing of the other steps in the coming weeks and hopefully step 4 will be brought forward.

The NZ tourist and ski industries are no doubt counting on that happening well before winter.