New Zealand celebrates as all borders reopen since start of Covid

Robert Besser
04 Aug 2022, 15:34 GMT+10

After being shut since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand's borders fully re-opened to foreign visitors this week
However, most visitors will still need to be vaccinated against COVID and must take two COVID tests after arriving
The process of reopening the borders ended this week as visitors who need visas and those on student visas are now allowed to return to New Zealand

WELLINGTON, New Zealand: After being shut since March 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, New Zealand's borders fully re-opened to foreign visitors this week.

However, most visitors will still need to be vaccinated against COVID and must take two COVID tests after arriving. Also, there are no longer quarantine requirements.

The process of reopening the borders ended this week as visitors who need visas and those on student visas are now allowed to return to New Zealand. New Zealand is also allowing cruise ships and foreign recreational yachts to again dock at its ports.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this week, during a speech at the China Business Summit in Auckland, that the final staged opening of the borders had been a much anticipated moment.

"It's been a staged and cautious process on our part since February as we, alongside the rest of the world, continue to manage a very live global pandemic, while keeping our people safe."

Also, New Zealand Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said the return of cruise ships will be a boost for local industries.

"Most cruise visits are during the warmer months of October to April, and summer is our bumper tourism season, overall. This means it will be full steam ahead for the industry," said Nash.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Oklahoma City Sun.

More Information

91 ℉

Partly Cloudy in Oklahoma City

Business

Section

U.S. stocks on the defensive, Nasdaq slips 151 points

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks fell Tuesday, with broad-based losses across the board. The technology sector, however, wore ...

Survey of economists says 2022 Turkey deficit could grow to $40.2 bln

ISTANBUL, Turkey: Turkey's current accounts are expected to record a deficit of $3.4 billion in June and end the year ...

Japan's Nikkei 225 drops 249 points as Asian stocks flounder

SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Stocks in Asia were mixed Tuesday while in the Pacific, markets rose. The scene mirrored events ...

Bangladesh cuts fuel subsidies, raises fuel prices by 50 percent

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Bangladesh raised fuel prices by some 50 percent this week, which is aimed at reducing the country's subsidy ...

U.S. stocks start week on mixed note, Nasdaq Composite loses 13 points

NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks closed mixed on Monday as investors fret about CPI data due to be ...

Amazon pays $1.7 billion for vacuum maker iRobot

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Amazon announced this week that it had purchased robotic vacuum maker iRobot for approximately $1.7 ...

International

Section