The Government is removing the self-isolation requirements for vaccinated travellers from Australia to New Zealand and enabling Kiwis to come here from the rest of the world sooner.
Starting from 11:59pm Wednesday 2 March, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens, residents and other eligible travellers from Australia will no longer have to self-isolate for seven days when they arrive.
Step 2 is being brought forward. From 11:59pm on Friday 4 March, fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens, residents, and eligible travellers from the rest of the world will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival.
This means those travellers will be able to enter the country and immediately connect with family and friends, and enjoy all New Zealand has to offer.
The Government will review the timings of Steps 3 to 5.
Testing remains critical
Incoming travellers will still be required to undertake a pre-departure test before they get on a plane to New Zealand.
Travellers will also need to take a rapid antigen test (RAT) on the day they arrive in New Zealand and on Day 5/6. Travellers will receive a pack of RATs, with instructions, when they arrive. If anyone returns a positive result they will need report it and isolate for 10 days, the same period as a community case already in New Zealand.
Returnees will also be asked to follow up a positive rapid antigen test with a PCR test, so that we can run whole genome sequencing and keep tabs on any emerging variants.
For more information about travel to New Zealand see the Covid19.govt.nz website.
MIQ remains for some travellers
Managed isolation will remain for unvaccinated travellers, but MIQ capacity will be scaled back.
The border and MIQ workforce have done a phenomenal job at first keeping COVID-19 out of New Zealand and then slowing the spread once it arrived. Because of this mahi, New Zealand has one of the lowest number of deaths from COVID-19 in the world.
For more information about MIQ see miq.govt.nz
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