Nov 24, 2021

Late border opening and quarantine restricts visitors in early 2022

Finally! We have a date for when New Zealand will again welcome visitors into the country. Unfortunately for anglers, it has been set for April 30th and thus ruins the chance to send a line until the 2022-23 season.

Yesterday Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the New Zealand government set dates for the return of both New Zealanders to their home country and for International Visitors. However, the "welcome" comes with caveats, even for those who have been vaccinated and have proof of a negative test....

...a 7-day quarantine still exists!

While we have waited for a plan from the New Zealand government for some time, the disappointment of self-isolation is disappointing (to say the least). We hope common sense in time will prevail. Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins commented that the settings would continue to be reviewed against the risk posed by travelers entering New Zealand.

Hopefully this means that isolation will not be required for those who are vaccinated. Afterall, as of today 76% of New Zealand has received a vaccination, with 70% being fully vax'd. A 7 day quarantine will still exist?

Frankly, this just seems out of touch.

- - - -

Details follow:

• International visitors will be allowed back in New Zealand from 11.59pm Saturday 30 April 2022 meaning travelers could start arriving the morning of Sunday 1 May.
• Everyone would need to provide a negative pre-departure Covid test
• Visitors must show proof of full vaccination
• Visitors must provide a passenger declaration of their travel history
• Upon arrival travelers need to conduct a day 0-1 test
• Once admitted, travelers will need to self-isolate for seven days, and then provide a final negative test before entering the community.

Next up: Details on how self-isolation would be implemented are expected in December, including word on how people could travel from their arrival airport to their location of self-isolation and the requirements for isolation. Perhaps that self-isolation would mean a luxury lodge? Like much of the last 18 months... we will wait and see.

Author: Frank Krieger