Travel bubble between Australia and New Zealand is suspended for at least TWO months as several states battle Covid outbreaks
- New Zealand has suspended its travel ties with Australia for at least two months
- Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called for New Zealanders to return home
- Trans-Tasman bubble will burst at 11.59pm Friday but managed flights will follow
- New Zealanders will need a negative Covid test to get back into the country
New Zealand has suspended travel ties with Australia for two months as several states deal with coronavirus outbreaks.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Friday.
The trans-Tasman bubble will burst at 11.59pm but there will be managed return flights over the next week to allow New Zealanders to get home.
Those outside Victoria and NSW will be able to return without going through quarantine.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the decision after a cabinet meeting on Friday
Everyone will need to obtain a negative pre-departure test.
‘My strong message to every New Zealander in Australia right now who does not want to stay there long term is – come home,’ Ms Ardern said.
Australia is grappling with serious coronavirus outbreaks in NSW, Victoria and South Australia, with a local case also recorded in Queensland.
More than 14 million people are in lockdown across the country.
The travel bubble began on April 19 and allowed Australians and New Zealanders to travel between the two countries without the need to quarantine.
More than 300,000 people have taken advantage of the quarantine-free travel arrangements.
However, Ms Ardern said the highly contagious Delta variant had materially changed the risk profile and Covid-19 was now widespread in Australia.
‘We’ve always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved,’ she said.
New Zealand officials expect it will take eight weeks to bring the NSW outbreak under control
‘This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe.’
New Zealand officials expect it will take eight weeks to bring the NSW outbreak under control.
The decision could affect upcoming Bledisloe Cup Tests between the All Blacks and Wallabies, with matches slated on both sides of the ditch.
Ms Ardern said the Wallabies could utilise the seven-day window to travel to New Zealand for the Tests after applying for an exemption on economic grounds.
‘However, it must be in the seven-day window, we are not making exceptions outside of that. Everyone else has to go into quarantine.’
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