Australian citizens will be welcomed back to New Zealand almost three months earlier than planned with the country’s border reopening brought forward.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed this morning that fully-vaccinated Australians will be allowed to travel across the ditch without isolating from 11.59pm on April 12.
The move comes just in time for the Easter school holidays across Australia.
Ms Ardern had previously flagged that Australians would not be allowed into New Zealand until July.
“We have now received guidance that it is safe to significantly bring forward the next stage of border reopening work to welcome back our tourists,” Ms Ardern said.
“In doing so we are sending a very clear message that we are accelerating our economic recovery.”
“We’re ready to welcome back the world.”
This week will mark two years since New Zealand shut its border to the world because of the pandemic.
A Trans-Tasman travel bubble was put in place in April last year before it was burst within weeks as cases in Australia surged.
“I look forward to welcoming back our Trans-Tasman travellers who have historically made up 40 per cent of our international arrivals, around 1.5 million Australians.
“They will be able to arrive in time for Australian school holidays and provide a particular boost for our coming winter ski season.”
People from visa-waiver countries and those with valid visitor visas will be able to travel to New Zealand from May 1.
