Tougher border rules

New Zealand’s border controls are getting even stricter, with arrivals from virtually all countries soon needing a negative Covid test before boarding a plane here.

Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins yesterday gave Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield new powers, meaning he can now easily require negative tests for arrivals from all countries apart from Australia, some Pacific Island nations and Antarctica.

The move comes as Covid-19 surges around the world, in contrast to New Zealand, where there is no current community transmission. Both the United States and Britain are experiencing unprecedented peaks in Covid-19, and nearly 2 million people have now died from the virus globally.

Bloomfield will soon expand the list of countries from which passengers will need to return a negative test before being allowed to return to New Zealand. Tests need to be taken within 72 hours of flying to New Zealand.

It is understood new countries could be added to the list as soon as next week.

People arriving in New Zealand would also need an extra test within 24 hours of landing.

The rules were previously introduced for those arriving from Britain and the US. Those come into force on Friday.

From January 29, those who arrived without evidence of a negative test – for those countries from where one is required – could see returnees stung with a fine of up to $1000.

‘‘Given the high rates of infection in many countries and evidence of the global spread of more transmissible variants, it’s clear that most global air routes will be of critical concern for the foreseeable future, and we must respond strongly,’’ Hipkins said.