AUS
NZ
UK
CA
USA
IND
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Summary
- New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirms news about forming a travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand.
- The official date is still unknown, but Ms Ardern assured the deal would be signed by March 2021.
- Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt welcomed the news, saying his country was ready to meet the required terms and conditions.
In a welcome decision which can boost travel industry in New Zealand and Australia, Kiwi Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed to establish a trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia early next year.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said Australia was ready to become a part of the revolutionary deal between the sister nations.
Airlines in Oceania expect increasing number of flights to-and-fro across Australia and New Zealand once the agreement comes into existence. Since the beginning of travel restrictions, departures between the two countries have been reduced to only five per cent of the pre-coronavirus period.
PM Ardern and her cabinet added that Australians flying to New Zealand would not need to undergo 14-day isolation.
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What will be the terms and conditions?
The only condition to successfully establish the travel bubble would be no new COVID-19 outbreaks and a heads-up from the Australian government.
As Kiwis were already allowed in Australia, a recognised two-way agreement would be the first step to revive international travel to the normal standards. However, New Zealanders were required to self-isolate once they returned home.
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Health minister believes there should be no difficulties regarding formation of the bubble, as most Australian states have been already welcoming New Zealanders. Western Australia is the only territory which demands isolation for Kiwis post arrival.
The Cook Islands will, however, start with international travel earlier than Australia, as they have been COVID-19-free for a more extended period. Residents of Cook Island will also not be required to quarantine themselves.
Ms Ardern will announce the official start date for the quarantine-free departures once the two nations agree on things that New Zealand requires for the pact. She also assured that the plan didn’t involve any unnecessary risks, instead, it has been fully discussed beforehand.
Adern also said that a period of 28 days without community transmission would be a must for the bubble to stay open.
In case there is even one community transmission case, the travel bubble will be considered as burst.
Chris Hipkins, Coronavirus Response Minister in New Zealand, says his ministry will be checking local airports for safe international flights. Mr Hipkins said that travellers should not mix with each other if they were coming from different zones.
Last year, there were 1.5 million passenger journeys across the Tasman each way. Australians contribute to 40 per cent of total international journeys to New Zealand, while Kiwis account for 15 per cent of total international arrivals in Australia.
Some experts believe more Australians will be interested in travelling to New Zealand than vice versa. However, the travel bubble is a positive news, as the tourist and aviation industries are desperately looking for some profit after several months of stagnation.
