Date set for when New Zealand border will open to vaccinated Aussies

• NZ announces when its citizens can return

• There are several requirement to be met

• A date has also been for when Aussies can go to NZ

A date has been set for when New Zealand will reopen to travellers from Australia.

New Zealand’s Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said in a statement on Wednesday the MIQ (mandatory isolation and quarantine) requirement will be removed for returning New Zealanders flying in from Australia from 11.59pm on January 16.

“Closing our border was one of the first steps we took to keep our country safe from Covid-19 and it’ll be the last thing we open up, following our transition into the traffic light protection framework system and lifting of the Auckland boundary,” Mr Hipkins said.

New Zealand suspended all travel between it and Australia in July following an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant of coronavirus.

What you need before you can travel to NZ in 2022

All travellers will need a negative pre-departure test, proof of vaccination, a travel declaration, a test on arrival, a suitable self-isolation venue and another test before entering the community.

Self-isolation will be for seven days – halved from 14.

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When Australian citizens can travel to NZ

Unfortunately, Aussies will have to wait until at least April 30 until they can once again visit the land of the long white cloud under stage three of the plan.

“A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed,” Mr Hipkins said.

“This reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system.”

He defended not reopening borders before Christmas.

“Some people and businesses want us to start to open up before Christmas, and that’s understandable, but others want us to be more cautious. We acknowledge it’s been tough but the end of heavily restricted travel is now in sight,” he said.

“There continues to be a global pandemic with cases surging in Europe and other parts of the world, so we do need to be very careful when reopening the border."

with AAP

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