NZ reopening fully in August

Wellington – New Zealand will fully reopen to the world in August, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said yesterday, ending one of the toughest anti-Covid border restrictions.

The controls dating back to March 2020 have been hailed as world-leading in some quarters, with New Zealand boasting one of the lowest Covid death rates among developed nations.

However, critics said the system lacked flexibility and curtailed the economy.