New Zealand will open to fully vaccinated travellers from January 2022

The trans-Tasman travel bubble was short lived, but now — our friends over the ditch have revealed when borders will reopen in New Zealand.

One of Australia’s favourite overseas destinations will swing open their borders from next year, as the world slowly begins to open up following the Covid-19 pandemic.

From January 17, 2022, fully vaccinated Kiwis can travel from Australia to New Zealand without going through MIQ (the country’s hotel quarantine system) and instead go through seven days of home isolation.

From February 14, 2022, New Zealand citizens can fly in from most other countries, except those considered ‘very high risk’, and also go through the home isolation requirement rather than through hotel quarantine.

From April 30, New Zealand is set to open back up for foreign nationals and international visitors in stages — including Australian travellers.

New Zealand will start reopening borders form 2022. Mark Mitchell – Pool/Getty Images)

“This is about opening the borders in a progressive and safe way,” Covid-19 response Minister Chris Hipkins said of the dates.

While Mr Hipkins said the dates were the safest way to reconnect New Zealanders to the world, travel in 2022 will not be the same as it was in 2020.

All travellers will require a negative test, proof of vaccination and declaration they haven’t been in very high-risk countries. They will also require regular testing after they have arrived.

The announcement comes just days after Air New Zealand announced they had cancelled 12000 flights this week due to “ongoing uncertainty” over the border closure.

Vaccinated New Zealand residents will be able to bypass managed hotel quarantine from January. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Hipkins acknowledged some would have wanted the borders open by Christmas — but stressed with cases surging around the world — he had to take a “very careful” approach.

“A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed,” he said on Wednesday.

“This reduces any potential impacts on vulnerable communities and the New Zealand health system.”