NZ welcomes tourists – to spend two weeks in comfortable cells on arrival

Foreign tourists are welcome back to New Zealand from 1 February. Non-residents who previously visit the country as part of an essential trip must be fully vaccinated as of 1 November. Air New Zealand also announced that from 1 February all passengers on international flights must be vaccinated.

Minister Hipkins announced on Sunday that the government will impose the vaccination obligation on all travelers to New Zealand who are over 17 years old and are not New Zealand citizens. Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to spend two weeks in a controlled isolation facility upon entry into New Zealand. This applies in any case until 1 February. The requirement that most passengers must have a negative Coronation test 72 hours before departure also remains in force.

“Most people coming to New Zealand have already been vaccinated. This requirement makes it formal and provides an extra layer of protection at the border,” says Hipkins.

The measure now being implemented is an important step towards gradually re-opening the country, but the vaccination rate is still relatively low. According to the NZ Herald, 47 percent of Kiwis are currently fully vaccinated. Air New Zealand also announced on Sunday that all its adult passengers on international flights must be vaccinated as of 1 February. This also applies to New Zealanders.