At last! New Zealand starts to ease entry restrictions

New Zealand has been off-limits to international visitors since March last year. The country’s strict entry ban on international arrivals has prevented overseas visitors from travelling to New Zealand for a lengthy period — with the exception of travellers from neighbouring Australia and selected Pacific Ocean states.    

SA travellers to New Zealand

South Africans have been unable to make discretionary trips to New Zealand for more than a year and a half, but there is good news on the horizon for anyone wishing to travel to New Zealand. South Africans are still however, required to obtain visas to visit New Zealand for tourist purposes.

Like its neighbour Australia, New Zealand has outlined plans for the easing of entry restrictions to international visitors. New Zealand’s Minister for COVID-19 Response, Chris Hipkins has announced that home isolation requirements for arriving travellers will be introduced sometime next year.

NEW ZEALAND’S PATHWAY OUT OF LOCKDOWN

New Zealand has begun the journey to easing restrictions on entry to the country by introducing a traffic-light system. From 8 November one-way quarantine-free travel to New Zealand has opened up for smaller Pacific nations, including Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

“Last week, the government announced a pathway forward out of lockdowns with the new traffic-light COVID-19 Protection Framework that will see an easing of restrictions once the country is 90% vaccinated. Today’s easing of MIQ requirements is part of our broader plan to reopen New Zealand safely and reconnect with the world,” said Hipkins.

NEW ZEALAND REDUCES LENGTH OF QUARANTINE  

According to TravelNews, New Zealand has launched a phased easing of border restrictions that allows the time spent in a Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facility to be halved to seven days for overseas arrivals (effective 14 November).

“Arrivals will be tested on day 0/1, day 3, and day 6/7, followed by a short period of self-isolation at home – around three days. A rapid antigen test and health checks will be carried out on day seven before a person leaves MIQ, and people will get a PCR test on day 9 of their home isolation and stay at home until the result comes back,” he said.

RESTRICTIONS TO EASE FURTHER IN 2022

The second stage of New Zealand’s reopening plan should enable fully vaccinated travellers to self-isolate outside of the country’s managed quarantine facilities.

This option is expected to be implemented in the first quarter of 2022, according to the New Zealand government website. South African nationals will still need to obtain visas prior to travelling to New Zealand.