New Zealand prepares to open its border to Aussie travellers
New Zealand will look to open its border to Australia in the first quarter of 2021.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed the nation’s travel bubble plans at a press conference on Monday and while she didn’t offer a specific date, she said it should be in place by March.
“Cabinet has agreed in principle to establish a travel bubble with Australia,” she told reporters.
However she warned a Trans-Tasman bubble would only be possible if case levels remained low.
"If there is an outbreak in Australia — and there have been several — we'd have to arrange to bring thousands of New Zealanders back to the country through managed isolation," Ms Ardern said.
Quarantine-free travel will also require Australian government approval.
A similar arrangement has been agreed with the Cook Islands.
The NZ government has come under increasing pressure to restore pre-COVID travel arrangements as Australia’s streak of zero community transmission across the country continues.
New Zealand residents were able to travel to some Australian states from October.
New Zealand's COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said he will now be working through logistical issues associated with the move and that airlines “need a bit of time to prepare”.
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