Sooner Than Planned…New Zealand to Reopen Borders on April 12

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced, on Wednesday, that the country will open its international borders in April instead of July.

After more than two years of COVID-19 isolation, New Zealand will reopen for travellers from all over the world to the nation's economy, according to Ardern's announcement.

Ardern told reporters that vaccinated travelers from Australia can enter without the need to quarantine from April 12 rather than July as previously planned.

On the other hand, tourists from visa-waiver countries including the United States, Britain and Singapore will now be able to visit from May 1.

“Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop Covid-19, over two years ago, and its reopening will spur our economic recovery throughout the remainder of the year,” she said.

The new change ends the country's toughest restrictions in the world since the Covid-19 pandemic.

In February, New Zealand eased some of the Covid-19 restrictions but the Prime minister stated that the country will not fully reopen until October.

Ardern has highlighted a five-step plan to let New Zealand join the rest of the world, beginning with waiving hotel quarantine requirements for its nationals stranded overseas by the pandemic.

“It’s time to move again,” she said. “Families and friends need to reunite, our businesses need skills to grow, exporters need to travel to make new connections.”