The Government has outlined the self-isolation rules for vaccinated Kiwis returning from overseas, starting with arrivals from Australia from February 28.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said from the end of March, inbound travellers will be required to complete an online declaration before they travel, sharing proof of vaccination and their negative pre-departure test result.
Otherwise, travellers will be able to self-isolate anywhere in New Zealand. According to the Government’s Covid-19 website, their accommodation will need to have cell-phone coverage, a landline number, or wi-fi, so they can be contacted by the Ministry of Health if needed, and access to a Covid-19 testing location.
It will be possible to self-isolate in a hotel, motel, university hostel or other sole-hosted accommodation like an Airbnb, as long as facilities aren’t shared.
Travellers can also stay in a “bubble” with friends or family. These household members don’t need to self-isolate, but the official advice is to “minimise contact with them as much as possible”, and not have any other visitors to the home.
As previously announced, on arrival in New Zealand, travellers will be given three rapid antigen tests– one for testing on day 0/1, another for testing on day 5/6, and another as back-up.
They will then be free to travel to their self-isolation location. While travelling by private vehicle is “strongly recommended”, it will also be possible to use public transport, including a taxi, bus, train, ferry or domestic flight.
If delayed from getting to their place of self-isolation – such as having to wait overnight for a connecting domestic flight – travellers are allowed to stay at a temporary location. However, the official advice states where possible, travellers should make travel and isolation plans that “avoid situations like this”.
Travellers will be required to self-isolate for seven days. It won’t be possible to enter New Zealand for fewer than seven days and then leave.
Should a traveller test positive with either of their rapid antigen tests, they will be required to arrange a PCR test. They will need to drive themselves, or be driven by someone in their bubble, to the testing centre, and not take public transport – if this isn’t possible, Healthline will provide support.
Aside from testing purposes, those in self-isolation will only be allowed to leave if there is an emergency, or to get urgent medical care.
Hipkins said travellers would also be able to temporarily leave self-isolation in special circumstances, such as visiting terminally ill relatives or to attend court hearings.
Arrivals who cannot meet the vaccination or isolation requirements will have to book a space in managed isolation and quarantine.
The vaccination requirement applies to those aged 17 and older – unvaccinated children under 17 will be allowed to self-isolate with their vaccinated parents or guardians.
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