Trans-Tasman travel bubble in early 2021
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says a travel bubble with Australia is on track to open in the first quarter of 2021.
Speaking at the final post-Cabinet press conference of the year yesterday, Ardern said Cabinet had agreed ‘‘in principle’’ to establish quarantine-free travel between the two countries, though would not give a date for the earliest it could be in place.
‘‘It is our intention to name a date ... in the new year, once remaining details are locked down,’’ Ardern said.
One-way quarantine-free travel from the Cook Islands would come before the Australian bubble was in place, Ardern said.
‘‘We expect that will be the first thing to start.’’
Ardern said the opening of the Australian bubble was contingent on Australia’s Cabinet signing it off, and the Covid-19 situation in both countries remaining as it was now.
They also needed to ensure plans were in place for if there was a resurgence of the virus in Australia, which could see thousands of Kiwis need to return to New Zealand and spend time in isolation.
‘‘Making sure we have in place contingency [plans] for how that will work safely is a key part of us being able to finalise these arrangements,’’ she said.
Arrangements also had to be made with airlines about the management of air crew and separation of trans-Tasman flights from other services.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said he would be visiting Auckland Airport today to look at how those travelling as part of the bubble would be able to remain separated from other travellers.
‘‘Nobody wants to see travellers coming from a safe zone country mixing with travellers who are coming from somewhere else,’’ he said.
Kiwis have been able to travel to Australia without having to quarantine on arrival since October 16, when the Australian government established a ‘‘safe travel zone’’ with New Zealand.
However, this arrangement was only one-way, with passengers returning to New Zealand from Australia still having to complete 14 days of managed isolation on their return.
Flight Centre NZ general manager product Victoria Courtney said she was ‘‘stoked’’ to see the Government taking further steps towards opening two-way travel bubbles with Australia and the Cook Islands.