NZ Blocked to non-residents/NZ citizens, AU until Apr 13, others May 2 2022

[VPS]

Email from Air NZ just now. One of the things I like about Air NZ is they ask your preferred name and all the emails come with that name. Kia ora VPS, Kiwis have a reason to celebrate today. From the end of the month and for the first time in a long while, New Zealanders in Australia will be able to touch down on home soil without the need for MIQ. A sigh of relief for many families. Kiwis around the rest of the world, will be able to do that from 14 March and international visitors from July onwards. What today’s news also means is that New Zealanders in Aotearoa can venture abroad with the certainty they can get back home. The road is smoothing. We expect to have more than 300 flights available between New Zealand and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast during March. Demand will change and with that so will the number of flights we have both to and from Australia and the rest of the world. One thing we can promise to Kiwis wanting to come home, is that Air New Zealand will have seats to take them. We’ve kept our international operation warm over the last two years taking New Zealand exports to the world, and we’re relishing the chance to fill those seats with passengers. COVID has changed the travel environment, but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to get you where you need to go safely, and to make sure you have a great flying experience. From the moment you see the mangōpare on our planes, you know you're home and can relax in that warm Kiwi hospitality onboard. Last year, we announced that customers onboard international flights would need to be fully vaccinated to travel with us. This came into effect on 1 February and joins the range of protections we have in place to keep you, our people, and New Zealand safe. All Air New Zealand employees you interact with during your journey will be fully vaccinated too. We encourage you to check out our international travel requirements page and stay up to date with what you need to enter New Zealand. We can’t wait to say kia ora and welcome you back onto New Zealand soil soon.​

 

[burmans]

Email from Air NZ just now. One of the things I like about Air NZ is they ask your preferred name and all the emails come with that name. Kia ora VPS, Kiwis have a reason to celebrate today. From the end of the month and for the first time in a long while, New Zealanders in Australia will be able to touch down on home soil without the need for MIQ. A sigh of relief for many families. Kiwis around the rest of the world, will be able to do that from 14 March and international visitors from July onwards. What today’s news also means is that New Zealanders in Aotearoa can venture abroad with the certainty they can get back home. The road is smoothing. We expect to have more than 300 flights available between New Zealand and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast during March. Demand will change and with that so will the number of flights we have both to and from Australia and the rest of the world. One thing we can promise to Kiwis wanting to come home, is that Air New Zealand will have seats to take them. We’ve kept our international operation warm over the last two years taking New Zealand exports to the world, and we’re relishing the chance to fill those seats with passengers. COVID has changed the travel environment, but what hasn’t changed is our commitment to get you where you need to go safely, and to make sure you have a great flying experience. From the moment you see the mangōpare on our planes, you know you're home and can relax in that warm Kiwi hospitality onboard. Last year, we announced that customers onboard international flights would need to be fully vaccinated to travel with us. This came into effect on 1 February and joins the range of protections we have in place to keep you, our people, and New Zealand safe. All Air New Zealand employees you interact with during your journey will be fully vaccinated too. We encourage you to check out our international travel requirements page and stay up to date with what you need to enter New Zealand. We can’t wait to say kia ora and welcome you back onto New Zealand soil soon.​

I thought they were very quick to get this out but I guess they have had a while to prepare.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

One question I haven't seen answered yet is how people are expect to behave once in home isolation.

For example in the early days of the Queensland home isolation you had to fly directly into the airport (no transits once in the state), travel via private transport to your home, home location could only be up to a 2 hour drive from the airport.

Australia has shown this doesn't work, the reasoning behind NSW opening up is the amount of money/effort spend on policing home quarantine just wasn't worth it. A part of me wonders if they no longer have access to Australian news over there, NZ are going to find their covid cases will climb very quickly after opening to home quarantine and I really hope this causes a rethink of the current strategy.

There was a similar question asked, but waffly answer. Could be bad news for those not in Auckland or wanting to visit elsewhere.

 

[AviationNZ]

They already seem to be preping us, so fingers crossed it's sooner rather than later!

Covid-19: 'Self-isolation won't be something that we ask people to do forever' - Chris Hipkins

There could be significant rates of Covid-19 in the community once overseas New Zealanders can self-isolate at the end of the month, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[Mwenenzi]

There was a similar question asked, but waffly answer. Could be bad news for those not in Auckland or wanting to visit elsewhere.

"waffly answer." Is there any other from the podium of truth?

Air Auckland has non stop flights MEL-CHC for sale from Sunday 6 March (not every day), so non AKL routes are expanding. But cancellation will be a real risk. Air Sydney shows no new routes.

Would expect will be an initial rush from NZ citizens AU to NZ 27 Feb, later 13 March (worldwide) and then around Easter (Friday15 April - Monday 18 April)/school holidays.
When the AU border opened more in Nov 2021 demand was high initially then subdued (from personnel experience)

 

[aaa99]

It looks like the 7 day isolation is going... Now the border is actually open, atleast to Kiwis returning from Australia at this stage. Border is also opening to Kiwis from other countries in the next few days.

Kiwis from anywhere can return home from Friday, no more self-isolation for vaxxed travellers

It comes as pressure mounts on the Government to take stronger actions.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[henrus]

Next step is allowing aussie passport holders back!

 

[AviationNZ]

It looks like the 7 day isolation is going... Now the border is actually open, atleast to Kiwis returning from Australia at this stage. Border is also opening to Kiwis from other countries in the next few days.

Kiwis from anywhere can return home from Friday, no more self-isolation for vaxxed travellers

It comes as pressure mounts on the Government to take stronger actions.

www.nzherald.co.nz

Next step is allowing aussie passport holders back!

Good to have one more barrier down!
You can be certain the April and July dates will move forward, million dollar question is when they'll announce it and how far forward they move them.

 

[henrus]

You can be certain the April and July dates will move forward, million dollar question is when they'll announce it and how far forward they move them.

It'd be great if they could do it soon instead of leaving it last minute. I just booked flights to the US with Air NZ at April. It'd be annoying to be shoved in the transit holding room for that transit and it'd be even better if I could shuffle flights around to spend a day or two in Auckland.

 

[AviationNZ]

It'd be great if they could do it soon instead of leaving it last minute. I just booked flights to the US with Air NZ at April. It'd be annoying to be shoved in the transit holding room for that transit and it'd be even better if I could shuffle flights around to spend a day or two in Auckland.

You mean planning?!? That's not the MO of the NZ Govt I'm afraid. "Reactive not proactive" should be their party slogan!

 

[burmans]

Just looking at booking flights SYD to WLG for Easter for my daughter and doesn’t look like either Air NZ or Qantas have direct flights available yet, hoping that changes soon.

 

[AviationNZ]

Just looking at booking flights SYD to WLG for Easter for my daughter and doesn’t look like either Air NZ or Qantas have direct flights available yet, hoping that changes soon.

I read this yesterday, so you should be fine. With the change yesterday, I"m sure Air NZ and Qantas will be loading schedules ASAP.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[burmans]

Yeah, given this was a change in the health operating model I guess the airlines didn't have schedules prepared for Mar/April but are madly trying to arrange this now (including planes and crew).

 

[aaa99]

More good news: Government to open to Australian tourists first on April 12, then visa-waiver countries in May

 

[burmans]

Just looking at booking flights SYD to WLG for Easter for my daughter and doesn’t look like either Air NZ or Qantas have direct flights available yet, hoping that changes soon.

Still looking for those flights to Wellington for Easter, lets hope that latest news persuades Air NZ/Qantas to increase flights. Currently only indirect flights at about $1500!

A bit bitter/sweet this news for us. My wife persuaded our daughters to get NZ passports just in case (Oz born but NZ parents, my eldest actually had a NZ passport as her first passport as they were easier/cheaper to get), now not needed. Fortunately one was only in progress and who knows when you can use a spare passport.

 

[Mwenenzi]

As anticipated opening up to AU from 13 April & many other countries on 01 May. About 60 visa waiver countries.

NZ Govt When New Zealand's borders open [update 16 march 11:34]

<snip>
Step 3 —
From 13 April, and from 2 May
From 11:59pm 12 April 2022The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand and do not need to self-isolate or enter MIQ:

• Australian citizens and permanent residents.
• Current temporary work and student visa holders from anywhere in the world, with a valid visa who can still meet their visa requirements — this includes both visa holders currently offshore, and those in New Zealand who choose to travel overseas and wish to return.
• Up to 5,000 international students from anywhere in the world, for semester 2.

Get a COVID-19 pre-departure test

From 11:59pm 1 May 2022
The following fully vaccinated people can enter New Zealand and do not need to self-isolate or enter MIQ:

• Visitors from countries who do not need a visa (visa waiver visitors).
• Visitors from other countries who already hold a valid visitor visa.

Visa waiver countries and territories | immigration.govt.nz
<snip>

PM on border reopening plan: 'We're ready to welcome the world back'

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced New Zealand's borders will be open to vaccinated Australians from 11.59 pm on 12 April.

www.rnz.co.nz

<snip>
Ardern says trans-Tasman travellers have traditionally made up 40 percent of tourists to New Zealand, and will be able to travel in time for the Australia school holidays, and provide a boost for the winter ski season.
<snip

New Zealand back to normal as most travel restrictions end

What was once 'Fortress New Zealand' is now back to normality, with most travel restrictions now history.

www.executivetraveller.com

<snip>
Air New Zealand and Qantas are expected to ramp up their current skeleton schedules, used to ferry home NZ citizens and residents living overseas, and Jetstar – which this week resumed flying to Bali – is certain to be quick off the mark.


Virgin Australia’s intentions are not yet known: the airline opted out of the original 2021 bubble to focus on building out its domestic network and shoring up its market share in the face of competition from Qantas, Jetstar and new challenger Rex.
<snip>

 

[jakeseven7]

Slow clap for NZ

 

[Beasley]

Not getting too excited by this. Omicron is spreading rapidly throughout NZ and yet we would have to be tested twice during a potential holiday. So, what happens if we test positive on ne of those tests while there? ……. locked down in a hotel for seven days?

Sorry. Would rather use my holiday spending elsewhere.

 

[N860CR]

Not getting too excited by this. Omicron is spreading rapidly throughout NZ and yet we would have to be tested twice during a potential holiday. So, what happens if we test positive on ne of those tests while there? ……. locked down in a hotel for seven days?

Sorry. Would rather use my holiday spending elsewhere.

Yep. The Fiji debacles cemented that. I will begrudgingly travel to places that need a test before arrival, but any testing on arrival is a hard no. Too much risk.

 

[burmans]

Yep. The Fiji debacles cemented that. I will begrudgingly travel to places that need a test before arrival, but any testing on arrival is a hard no. Too much risk.

Well it is an unsupervised RAT!