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Government to open to Australian tourists first on April 12, then visa-waiver countries in May

The Government will open the New Zealand border to vaccinated Australian tourists from 11.59pm on April 12.

Tourists from visa-waiver countries like the United States and UK will be able to arrive from 11.59pm on May 1.

Others who already hold visas will be able to travel without isolation from May 1 too.

Australian tourists will be the first to arrive.
Australian tourists will be the first to arrive. They will need to be vaccinated and have test negative in a pre-departure test – but will not be required to isolate upon arrival.

These tests could be a PCR test or supervised LAMP test or RAT. Visitors will be provided with RATs on arrival and need to take a test on arrival and on day 5 or 6.

This is a shift from an earlier timetable that put Australia and the visa-waiver countries into one grouping. The dates were announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday morning.

“Reopening in time for the upcoming Australian school holidays will help spur our economic recovery in the short term and is good news for the winter ski season,” Ardern said.

The wider opening to the rest of the world is also likely to be brought forwards from October.

 

Complete article on Stuff.co.nz