New Zealand travel bubble ‘in the wind’

Australia could soon have a two-way travel bubble with New Zealand after Kiwi authorities hinted an arrangement might be in place by mid-April.

Australia could soon have a two-way travel bubble with New Zealand after Kiwi authorities hinted an arrangement might be in place by mid-April.

While Australia’s border has remained mostly open to New Zealand since October, with a few short suspensions during COVID-19 outbreaks in Auckland, New Zealand has delayed returning the favour.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson on Thursday hinted that a two-way bubble could commence soon.

“We were working towards a joint framework, a joint set of protocols, but actually I don’t think we’re too far off being able to create the New Zealand version to match up with the Australian version,” he told Radio New Zealand. “There are still a few ­issues to be ironed out, such as how the countries would handle fresh outbreaks.”

Trade and Tourism Minister Dan Tehan said Australia was working closely with New Zealand to finalise operational ­arrangements for a two-way safe travel zone.

“The safe travel zone will provide an economic boost for both countries, especially for the tourism and transport sectors, and will reunite families and friends,” he said. “The health and safety of the Australian community remains the government’s top priority and each country will continue to be responsible for decisions about its border.”

Earlier this week, Mr Tehan flagged a three-way travel bubble with Singapore and New Zealand by the middle of the year, with Fiji keen to join, but he said creation of a two-way travel bubble would depend on the rollout of the vaccine in Australia and globally.

“We’ve obviously attempted to open up a bubble with New Zealand. At the moment, that’s a one-way bubble,” he told Sunrise.

“We’re hoping New Zealand will allow Australians in without quarantining in coming months and Singapore have expressed an interest, when I put it to them.”

“If we could get that bubble expanded between New Zealand, Australia and Singapore, or one just operating with Singapore itself, that would be another step in the right direction.”

A travel bubble with New Zealand was first floated almost 10 months ago.

Mr Tehan said in an ideal world, travellers would not need to quarantine if they were vaccinated.