New Zealand: Authorities to permit travel to and from Auckland from Dec. 15 with COVID-19 testing or full vaccination /update 33

Event

New Zealand has eased border restrictions for the Greater Auckland area, including Port Waikato, as of Dec. 15. Officials permit travel to and from the area for any reason; however, travelers from Auckland must either be fully vaccinated with a My Vaccine Pass or provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken 72 hours or less before departing the city. The measure does not affect people under 12 years and three months old or transiting the city without stopping.

Domestic Measures
New Zealand is implementing a COVID-19 traffic light system nationwide, with areas classified as green, orange, and red based on local disease activity and other factors. The government is classifying Auckland and Far North, Whangarei, Kaipara, Taupo, Rotorua, Kawerau, Whakatane, Opotiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Rangitikei, Whanganui, and Ruapehu districts as red, the highest level. The rest of New Zealand remains orange. Authorities plan to reduce the classification for red locations, except Far North, Whangarei, Kaipara, to orange from 23:59 Dec. 30.

The government permits activity in areas under red and orange designations based on vaccination status, with relaxed measures effective for establishments using My Vaccine Pass requirements. In areas classified as red, gatherings can take place with up to 100 fully vaccinated people or 25 mixed or unvaccinated guests. Hospitality venues with only fully vaccinated customers can host up to 100 people per distinct area. Under orange restrictions, there are no limits for gatherings - including separate areas of hospitality establishments - occurring with only fully vaccinated guests and staff; a cap of 50 people is in place for mixed or unvaccinated gatherings.

In both orange and red locations, workplaces can operate; employees must be fully vaccinated in the hospitality sector, close-proximity businesses - like personal services - and indoor exercise facilities. Hospitality venues can only offer takeaway services if not checking vaccination status. Venues and organizers must limit capacity at gatherings and events to the equivalent of one person per meter (3.2 feet) in red and orange areas. All accommodations can operate without capacity limits. Face coverings remain necessary on public transport, including flights, retail outlets, public venues, government offices, and employees at hospitality and close-proximity businesses. Businesses must continue to keep a record of visitors. The government requires all companies and public facilities to post quick response (QR) codes at entrances to improve contact tracing.

International Travel Restrictions
An entry ban for most foreign nationals remains in place. Officials permit partners, dependents, and legal guardians of citizens with a visa based on the relationship and usually reside in New Zealand, and diplomats to enter without prior government consent. Authorities also allow other categories of people to enter the country with permission; a complete list of entry reasons is available here. Officials require foreign visitors to be fully vaccinated to enter the country. New Zealand only permits entry for citizens; their partners, parents, and dependents; or guardians of citizen dependents from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Other permitted travelers must spend 14 days outside very high-risk countries before traveling to New Zealand.

Authorities require most inbound international passengers to test negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before departure. Exemptions exist for individuals traveling from Antarctica, some Pacific Island nations and territories, and some countries where widespread COVID-19 testing is unavailable. Exceptions are also in effect for passengers who cannot receive a test due to medical reasons or previously recovered from COVID-19 but still return a positive test; in both instances, individuals must obtain a medical certificate certifying the information. Authorities will accept negative COVID-19 test results for passengers whose flights get delayed 24 hours or less. Passengers that do not meet pre-departure testing requirements may face a fine of up to NZD 1,000. Entrants must obtain a Managed Isolation Allocation system voucher to board flights.

Inbound passengers must undergo quarantine for at least seven days followed by self-quarantine until they receive a negative result from a test taken on day 9 after arrival. Symptomatic arrivals or people who test positive for COVID-19 must undergo a longer quarantine. Vessel crews arriving in New Zealand must isolate onboard for at least 10 days; journey time can be counted toward quarantine if verified by customs. A ban on cruise ships entering New Zealand ports remains in place; cargo and fishing vessels can load, unload, and undertake repairs. New Zealand citizens and locals from the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga, and Vanuatu traveling for a critical purpose can enter the country without quarantine. Quarantine-free travel from Australia to New Zealand remains suspended.

Officials charge quarantine fees of NZD 1,610 for the first person, NZD 460 for each additional adult, and NZD 230 per child for citizens and permanent residents. Children under three years of age are exempt if staying with another person. New Zealand citizens and residence visa holders and Australian citizens and permanent residents who typically reside in New Zealand are exempt from costs if they departed the country before Aug. 11, 2020, and intend to return home for longer than 90 days. Temporary visa holders are exempt from fees if they were residents in New Zealand as of March 19, 2020, and were outside the country before that date. Quarantine fees are NZD 2,760 for the first individual, NZD 1,495 for each additional adult, and NZD 805 per child for permitted critical workers and most short-term permitted entrants - including partners of citizens and residents and students, work, and limited visa holders.

Advice

Consider postponing travel to New Zealand if affected by restrictions. Confirm flight status if allowed entry into the country. Follow all official instructions and allow additional time for immigration and health screenings.

Resources

New Zealand Government COVID-19 Information
Managed Isolation and Quarantine
Ministry of Health