Unvaccinated Kiwis allowed back to NZ
Permanent residents who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to come to New Zealand from Friday.
Unvaccinated New Zealand residents have not been able to travel to the country since November 2021. However, unvaccinated citizens have been able to, although there have been MIQ requirements.
Yesterday Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced a change to the public health order for travel which would come into effect on Friday.
‘‘I am now directing a variation to the Order, on the basis of the high numbers of people in New Zealand who are vaccinated, combined with how common the Omicron variant has become. This means the risk posed to our healthcare system from overseas returnees is now much lower,’’ he said.
Hipkins’ announcement followed criticism about the requirement from the Human Rights commissioner and permanent residents stuck offshore.
From mid-March, unvaccinated New Zealand citizens were no longer required to enter MIQ.
Last week, Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt labelled the requirement on permanent residents ‘‘unfair, arbitrary, and questionable in international human rights law’’.
Yesterday, Hipkins said he was happy to change the order.
‘‘I acknowledge the difficulties some residents have faced in remaining overseas during this period,’’ he said. ‘‘As we’ve previously said, caution has served us well during the past two years. As we continue to move through the Omicron outbreak and peak, we will continue to remove restrictions when advised it is safe to do so – as we always said we would.’’
On Monday, the border opened to travellers from visa waiver countries such as the US.