The New Zealand Government today announced their border reopening plan and it’s not pretty for Aussie skiers and snowboarders.
With a multi step border reopening plan, fully vaccinated Australians will be able to enter New Zealand from July but it comes with a caveat.
In a crushing blow to the New Zealand ski industry that is already on its knees after two years of border lockdowns, visiting Aussies will need to self isolate for 10 days upon arrival.
That leaves three days to ski on a two week holiday. Though there is “hope” upon the battered horizon as that self isolation period may drop to seven days if they enter phase two and three of their Omicron response before then.
Confused? You should be.
If you do make the trip across the Tasman come July at this stage you’ll need to complete self-administered Rapid Antigen Tests during self-isolation and return a negative before leaving your 10 day self-isolation.
The first phase of border openings starts from March 14 when vaccinated New Zealanders and eligible travellers, skilled workers and those on a working holiday visa, living anywhere in the world can enter New Zealand without staying in MIQ (hotel isolation).
Eligible travellers include New Zealand citizens, permanent residents or resident visa holders, holders of a critical purpose visas or partners of a holder of a critical purpose visa.
A new traveller declaration system will be used from 31 March to provide relevant information at the border, including vaccination status, test results and where travellers have been prior to arriving in New Zealand.
All other visa holders will be able to enter New Zealand in stages over the next eight months, starting on 13 April in a five step reopening system from March until October.
We’ve heard similar musings across the ditch before, we’ve even had an open trans Tasman bubble for a millisecond before it was paused, then cancelled.
Anything can change, this is not locked in stone.
That’s our mantra for the Kiwi ski season 2022.
