New Zealand Government to allow entry of Australian travellers this month

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced this afternoon that a quarantine-free 'travel bubble' allowing Australians to enter the country will commence from 19th April.

Advising that the arrangements, which include a number of additional safety measures, will begin in two weeks, Prime Minister Ardern stated "(the New Zealand) Cabinet was presented with advice today that conditions for opening up quarantine-free travel with Australia had been met."

Noting that potential travellers will need to be prepared to have their travel plans changed at short notice, including landing and going into hotel quarantine, she went on to say "those undertaking travel on either side of the ditch will do so under the guidance of flyer beware.

"People will need to plan for the possibility of travel being disrupted if there is an outbreak."

The arrangements will see those arriving at airports in New Zealand from Australia noting have contact with people coming in from other parts of the world, who are going into isolation or quarantine facilities.

Prime Minister Ardern went on to advise "passengers will need to provide comprehensive information on how they can be contacted while in New Zealand. They won’t be able to travel if they have cold or flu symptoms. When they fly, they will be required to wear a mask on a flight and will also be asked to download and use the NZ COVID Tracer app for use in New Zealand.

“On arrival, passengers will be taken through what we call ‘the green zones’ at the airport, meaning there’ll be no contact with those arriving from other parts of the world and going into managed isolation or quarantine facilities. We will also be undertaking random temperature checks of those arriving as an extra precaution.”

The news was welcomed by a number of industry groups, with Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA) saying open borders with Australia was essential to ensuring the sector’s economic future.

BEIA Chief Executive, Lisa Hopkins stated “Australian clients are telling us they want to meet and do business person-to-person in New Zealand, and we can’t wait to welcome them back.

“This is a much-deserved relief for our business events industry members who have really battled for the last year."

A 'travel bubble' between Australia and New Zealand was first suggested in April last year.

New Zealanders have been free to travel to most Australian jurisdictions without being forced into hotel quarantine since October. However, these arrangements have been suspended a number of times due to Coronavirus outbreaks.

Image: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (left) and her sign language interpreter at today's announcement of the Australia - New Zealand travel bubble.