New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[lovetravellingoz]

New Zealand flights to resume​

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer has determined the Auckland hotspot should be lifted and flights from New Zealand to Australia can resume as of 11.59pm on Thursday 11 March 2021.

Auckland (except for Auckland airport for the purposes of travelling only) will become an orange zone under Victoria’s ‘traffic light’ travel permit system from 11.59pm on 11 March 2021.

People entering Victoria from Auckland (other than only for transit) must apply for an ‘orange zone’ permit. You can't apply for a permit if you have COVID-19 symptoms. You will need to get tested within 72 hours of arrival and remain home until you get a negative result.

People entering Victoria from areas of New Zealand outside Auckland are eligible to apply for a ‘green zone’ permit. More information on Victoria’s ‘traffic light’ travel permit system can be found at Victorian Travel Permit System.

Department of Health and Human Services Victoria | Coronavirus update for Victoria - 10 March 2021

Victoria has recorded no new cases of coronavirus since yesterday.

www.dhhs.vic.gov.au

 

[jakeseven7]

Who cares about NZ anymore they clearly just don’t have the tracking and tracing capability to deal with any size outbreak, as little as one case without a crippling shut down. Think we just need to leave them to themselves to work it out

I think it’s best we just focus on keeping Australia open domestically and driving demand with the huge domestic tourism spending package that was just announced.

 

[NZflygirl]

Who cares about NZ anymore they clearly just don’t have the tracking and tracing capability to deal with any size outbreak, as little as one case without a crippling shut down. Think we just need to leave them to themselves to work it out

I think it’s best we just focus on keeping Australia open domestically and driving demand with the huge domestic tourism spending package that was just announced.

When the risk of being infected in MIQ is significantly higher than the country you left it’s time to get a bubble going or at least arrange a safer option. Especially when 40% of your MIQ population comes from Australia. MIQ has an ongoing risk that never subsides like outbreaks do. I find it abhorrent NZ is happy subjecting travellers from Australia to this ongoing risk.

 

[jakeseven7]

When the risk of being infected in MIQ is significantly higher than the country you left it’s time to get a bubble going or at least arrange a safer option. Especially when 40% of your MIQ population comes from Australia. MIQ has an ongoing risk that never subsides like outbreaks do. I find it abhorrent NZ is happy subjecting travellers from Australia to this ongoing risk.

I don’t disagree - but NZ simply don’t have the right people, process and systems in place to maintain a bubble with Australia.

They cannot manage even the smallest of ‘outbreaks’ without a shut down and therefore cannot be trusted I’m afraid.

We just need to leave them behind, wait for them to sort out their vaccination schedule and revisit when their vulnerable populations are innoculated, at the earliest.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Well - SMH Traveller reported today that we can expect an announcement early next week that the two-way bubble will commence mid-April. About time I'd say - gives hope for other bubbles opening as the vaccine rollout progresses.

 

[Pushka]

Well - SMH Traveller reported today that we can expect an announcement early next week that the two-way bubble will commence mid-April. About time I'd say - gives hope for other bubbles opening as the vaccine rollout progresses.

But as noted above, at the whiff of any outbreak NZ is very reactive and which could leave people stranded.

 

[jakeseven7]

Well - SMH Traveller reported today that we can expect an announcement early next week that the two-way bubble will commence mid-April. About time I'd say - gives hope for other bubbles opening as the vaccine rollout progresses.

And will stay open approximately how many days do we reckon.....?

Place your bets!

The NZ and AU governments would both need to have very very public commitments on exactly the 'rules' of engagement for this operating to engender any sense of confidence at all for people to travel.

 

[dajop]

Well - SMH Traveller reported today that we can expect an announcement early next week that the two-way bubble will commence mid-April. About time I'd say - gives hope for other bubbles opening as the vaccine rollout progresses.

Another announcement about an impending announcement?

 

[N860CR]

And will stay open approximately how many days do we reckon.....?

Place your bets!

The NZ and AU governments would both need to have very very public commitments on exactly the 'rules' of engagement for this operating to engender any sense of confidence at all for people to travel.

Its not just the NZ and AU governments. It’s all the mini-republic states who seem to have the ability to shutdown the current one-way bubble on their own terms.

I’d actually have more faith in the federal governments of both countries to come to an agreement before two of our own states can

 

[jakeseven7]

Its not just the NZ and AU governments. It’s all the mini-republic states who seem to have the ability to shutdown the current one-way bubble on their own terms.

I’d actually have more faith in the federal governments of both countries to come to an agreement before two of our own states can

Good point, yet another reason why this will all end in tears, again.

 

[henrus]

It’s all the mini-republic states who seem to have the ability to shutdown the current one-way bubble on their own terms.

Excuse me... I quite like my Queensland passport! Over the next 12 months, I shall attempt to acquire citizenship/passports in other republics!

 

[glasszon]

Just like the proposed travel bubble between SIN and HKG, I wouldn't want to rely on the two way AU-NZ travel bubble until it actually opens, the start date can easily be pushed back even with a single case in either country.

Interesting that one of the NZ complaints is around the "exit visa" requirement from AU, surely AU would allow people to travel to NZ without special permission if a two way bubble is established?

 

[oznflfan]

Just like the proposed travel bubble between SIN and HKG, I wouldn't want to rely on the two way AU-NZ travel bubble until it actually opens, the start date can easily be pushed back even with a single case in either country.

Interesting that one of the NZ complaints is around the "exit visa" requirement from AU, surely AU would allow people to travel to NZ without special permission if a two way bubble is established?

The thing is mid this year, all marginalised and vulnerable people will well and truly be vaccinated, so it won't mater if there 1,5,10 or 20 cases. By mid next year when all Australian's are vaccinated and borders open hundreds of cases will circulate weekly, and again it won't matter.

 

[henrus]

The thing is mid this year, all marginalised and vulnerable people will well and truly be vaccinated

This is simply not true. There are some people who will be unable to have the vax and therefore it won't be "all" in that category who've had it yet.

 

[N860CR]

This is simply not true. There are some people who will be unable to have the vax and therefore it won't be "all" in that category who've had it yet.

True. But what's the alternative? Remain closed for the rest of our lives because a select few won't be able to have the vaccine (and I would then assume haven't had many other vaccines)?

It's about managing risk. The virus has an extremely high recovery rate, we have vaccines that are over 90% effective and are proving to stop or significantly slow transmission as well as illness. We could only dream about such a result for countless other virus' that we've lived with for our entire lives.

It's obviously very unfortunate if people become unwell, but they'll just need to protect themselves (as we do every year during flu season). It's amazing how we've lost total track of reality throughout this pandemic.

 

[henrus]

True. But what's the alternative? Remain closed for the rest of our lives because a select few won't be able to have the vaccine (and I would then assume haven't had many other vaccines)?

I was under the impression that the goal is to try and get enough people to have it so that the virus no longer circulates through the community, therefore those not vaccinated are protected by enough others getting the vax.

Once this has occurred we're likely to have larger-scale international border opening to those who have been vaccinated but this won't be mid-year and by the sounds of it could be around December this year before we reach this point.

To be clear I'm not talking about those who chose not to have it, I'm talking about those like in QLD right now who are being told they can't have it at the risk of a anaphylaxis shock.

 

[N860CR]

I was under the impression that the goal is to try and get enough people to have it so that the virus no longer circulates through the community, therefore those not vaccinated are protected by enough others getting the vax.

I was under the impression that we were aiming to "flatten the curve" and not overwhelm the hospital system. The longer term aim would be "herd immunity" as you describe, but it's not reasonable to continue this "keep everyone away, lock down after one case" mentality until that point.

To be clear I'm not talking about those who chose not to have it, I'm talking about those like in QLD right now who are being told they can't have it at the risk of a anaphylaxis shock.

I did note that, however just because they have a risk of anaphylactic shock does not make them any more susceptible to mortality from the coronavirus. Sadly, there will always be some who cannot receive a vaccine and precautionary measures would need to be taken (again, as we do every flu season).

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

But as noted above, at the whiff of any outbreak NZ is very reactive and which could leave people stranded.

And vice versa with some Australian states.

 

[drron]

And vice versa with some Australian states.

Though the first green shoots of recovery are showing through.WA has only closed to those who have visited possible transmission venues for both QLD and NSW.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Well - SMH Traveller reported today that we can expect an announcement early next week that the two-way bubble will commence mid-April. About time I'd say - gives hope for other bubbles opening as the vaccine rollout progresses.

Mid-April... notice they didn’t say what year.