A quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia will begin at 11:59pm on April 18, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced this afternoon (Tuesday April 6).

In its consideration this afternoon, Cabinet accepted advice from Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield who said the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low, that quarantine-free travel is safe to commence, and that he was confident in both countries’ ability to manage a travel arrangement, the PM said.

In its consideration this afternoon, Cabinet accepted advice from Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield who said the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from Australia to New Zealand is low, that quarantine-free travel is safe to commence, and that he was confident in both countries’ ability to manage a travel arrangement, the PM said.

The PM said since the pandemic began sacrifices have been made: “One sacrifice we’ve had to bear... has been not being able to see friends and family who live in Australia.”

She said safely opening up travel to another country was “an important step forward in our Covid response”.

The PM warned, however, that travel would not be without risk. Just as we have alert levels to manage Covid in New Zealand so there would be three levels - “continue, pause and suspend” - to manage the trans-Tasman bubble.

She said travel could “continue” without restrictions if Covid cases were well-contained at the border, for instance; but if a case was not clearly linked to a known source or a State issued lockdown then a “pause” would create a temporary halt to travel between that State and New Zealand.

And if multiple cases of an unknown origin were recorded then travel would be “suspended”.

The bubble will operate on a state-by-state basis within Australia. If there was a community outbreak in one state, travelling Kiwis in that state may have to stay put, self-isolate or be tested, but Kiwis in other states would not necessarily be affected.

There was also an element of “flyer beware” as the government will not rescue those trapped in Australia because of an outbreak and it’s unlikely such occurrences will be fully covered by insurance. 

All trans-Tasman international airports in New Zealand, including Queenstown Airport, are currently being audited to ensure safe travel is managed. This audit process is due to be complete by April 16.

QAC has been preparing for the opening of the travel bubble. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Passengers flying to and from Australia will pass through a “green zone” on arrival which will keep them separated from other passengers arriving from other countries. They will fly on aircraft and with aircrew only operating on trans-Tasman flights.

Only passengers who have been in Australia for 14 days or more will be permitted to fly to New Zealand and vice versa. 

The Queenstown Airport Corporation has been working with the Southern District Health Board in preparation for a return of international flights and vaccinations of airport staff and their close contacts will begin this Saturday (April 10). 

A one-way safe travel bubble was opened between Auckland and Sydney in October last year without requirement to quarantine in Sydney but until now it has never been reciprocated with passengers returning to New Zealand always having to stay in quarantine for 14 days on their return.

The Ministry of Health announced no new Covid-19 community cases today but advised of 17 new Covid cases in managed isolation over the last two days, 11 of which were new arrivals from India who tested positive for Covid either on arrival or during their first day test in isolation. 

On Monday (April 5) India recorded a record rise in Covid-19 infections with more than 100,000 new cases reported in one day.