Corona pandemic: New Zealand wants to reopen borders in 2022

After almost two years of isolation, New Zealand plans to reopen its borders to foreign travelers in early 2022. Travelers from low-risk countries could then enter with proof of vaccination without quarantine.

“We will proceed carefully and deliberately because we are not yet in a position to fully open our borders,” said New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. In the first quarter of the coming year, travelers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and who come from low-incidence areas should be able to enter New Zealand without quarantine.

Those who come from countries with higher incidences have to be in self-isolation or short quarantine, unvaccinated people or travelers from high-risk areas still have to undergo strict hotel quarantine for two weeks.

The borders have been tight since March 2020

In March of last year, the country closed its borders, New Zealanders and residents were allowed to return home, but had to be in quarantine for 14 days. With this strategy, the country quickly contained the pandemic, with minor local outbreaks being halted by strict lockdowns.

Only travel corridor with Australia

But that also meant that the five million inhabitants were cut off from the rest of the world. There is only one travel corridor with Australia, which will be closed again depending on the Corona situation there. Tourism, an important source of income for New Zealand, has almost come to a standstill; Housing shortages and child poverty have risen.

The opening of Fortress New Zealand was therefore seen as necessary sooner or later.