Businesses laud the move as borders finally open their doors
Fully vaccinated travellers from Australia are now allowed to re-enter New Zealand's borders since February 28, days before the government removes the self-isolation requirement for the said inbound travellers starting Wednesday.
"Cabinet has agreed to lift all self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travellers entering New Zealand from 11:59pm, Wednesday 2 March," said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins in a statement. "That means that all Kiwis coming home and tourists entering the country will be able to step off the plane and immediately connect with family and friends and enjoy all New Zealand has to offer."
However, Hipkins said that travellers are still required to present a negative pre-departure test and under two rapid antigen tests on arrival and on their fifth or sixth day.
"If anyone returns a positive result, they will be required to report it and isolate for the same period as a community case," the minister said. "Returnees are also asked to follow up their positive rapid antigen test with a PCR test, so that we can run whole genome sequencing and determine the variant. This will ensure that we can still keep tabs on any emerging variants and isolate cases as needed."
The move comes despite the country seeing surging COVID-19 cases due to the spread of the Omicron variant, but the government expressed confidence on its testing capabilities to handle the outbreak.
"As the pandemic evolves, we are too. Getting tested is now quicker and easier, requirements for isolation have been simplified to those who share a household, and care in the community is focused towards those most in need of support," said Hipkins.
Meanwhile, less than a week after the government enforced the first step of reopening plans, the government will move forward to Step 2 on March 4, Friday.
The move will allow New Zealanders and other eligible travellers from around the world to enter New Zealand without the need for self-isolation, according to Immigration NZ. In order to qualify, the government underscored the travellers must be:
Starting Sunday, the government will be reopening some of its working holiday schemes. It advised skilled workers that if they want to enter the country's borders, it may be easier for them to be granted the "other critical worker" border exception.
"We are able to take these decisions because we have a highly vaccinated population and good public health restrictions through the COVID-19 Protection Framework in place," Hipkins said.
Business NZ on Monday described the government's move to push through with border reopening as "appropriate," despite the number of Omicron cases in the country.
"It is a challenging time at the moment as New Zealanders adapt to Omicron in the community, however international travellers do not add significantly to the risk while the community outbreak is widespread," said Business NZ chief executive Kirk Hope.
"It is good to see the Government responding appropriately to the changing risk profile of COVID, and sending a message to the world that we look forward to welcoming back international skills and talent, and New Zealanders who have been unable to make it home."
According to Hope, it is looking forward for the government's move to further fast track reopening to bring non-New Zealand citizens to the country and recognising that "international mobility is critical to New Zealand's economic success."
