Bay’s bubble joy
Transtasman move welcomed by businesses and families region-wide
It has been over a year since Tauranga father Mat Barry has seen his two children who live in Australia. He’s missed two birthdays, one being his son’s 21st, as well as Christmas and everything in between.
But the invisible wall that has prevented their reunion is about to come down and Barry couldn’t be more excited.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia can begin in less than two weeks at 11.59pm on Sunday, April 18.
Prior to the pandemic, Barry would see his children at least twice a year for two weeks at a time, and for five to six weeks over Christmas.
When the bubble opens, he plans to visit his children, who he has not seen since March 20 last year, in Perth.
What will he do when he sees them? He says he will “hold them tight and tell them how much I love them”.
Barry is not the only one elated by the firm date of a transtasman bubble opening, with business leaders saying it will have “obvious economic benefits”.
Tourism Bay of Plenty chief executive Kristin Dunne said Australians were the most significant international visitor market.
According to data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, they contributed an estimated $70 million to the Coastal Bay of Plenty’s tourism economy before the pandemic, in the year-ending January 2020.
“We have already seen internationally reliant tourism businesses in the region close their doors because of the devastating impacts of Covid-19.
“We know that the region’s tourism businesses will welcome the hugely beneficial transtasman bubble.” Dunne said the organisation was preparing to welcome Aussies back to the area, predicting much of the first wave of travellers would be visiting their friends and relatives.
She said teams were working on market-ready plans to welcome Aussies to the Bay within the restrictions, targeting “high-value visitors” who will contribute not just economically, but also those who will give back in the environment, community and cultural areas.