New Zealand borders to reopen from next month, PM Ardern says

by Teena Marian 16-03-2022 | 2:16 PM

(News 1st); New Zealand has brought forward plans to reopen its borders to international travellers after a COVID-19 lockdown of more than two years.

Australians will be allowed to enter the country without needing to quarantine or isolate from 13 April, 2022.

Fully vaccinated travellers from about 60 countries on a visa-waiver list will be able to arrive from 2 May, 2022. Those nations include the UK and US, however all arrivals will have to show a negative COVID-19 test.

New Zealand shut its borders in March 2020 as the pandemic spread.

They have remained closed, except for a short-lived travel bubble with Australia.

Currently only New Zealand citizens are allowed in and out.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand was "ready to welcome the world back".

"We have now received guidance that it is safe to significantly bring forward the next stage of border reopening work, bringing back our tourists," she said on Wednesday.

People who already have a visa - but are from outside the visa waiver list - will be eligible to enter the country on 1 May.

While tough lockdowns and virtual isolation helped the country get a reputation as a Covid success story, transmission rates have soared recently.