Government has agreed in principle to establish a travel bubble with Australia in the first quarter of 2021.
It relies on no significant development of the Covid situation in both countries, and the sign off from Australia's Cabinet, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today.
Ardern said contingency plans needed to be in place in the event of an outbreak in Australia.
"These are things we don't take lightly."
She said there had been focus on putting rules in place for a bubble opening after 28 days free of community Covid transmission, however more preparation was needed over a range of issues.
One of those issues was making sure if there was an outbreak in Australia, there needed to be arrangements "for potentially thousands" of Kiwis coming back into New Zealand that wouldn’t be able to be held in managed isolation.
But don’t put the shrimps on the barbie just yet, because there’s no set date.
It was considering whether self-isolation was an option.
Australia's Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was not just a sign that New Zealand and Australia were working together, "but that families can be back together in both directions".
"And flights can be full in both directions which is good for the economy, good for our arlines and good for both countries."
"It's the first step on the return to international normality."
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said airlines needed a notice period and that there needed to be separation between staff working in different zones.
Air New Zealand chief executive officer Greg Foran told 1 NEWS today's announcement is "a great step forward".
"Our teams are busy preparing for recommencing quarantine-free travel. Safety is obviously a big priority for our airline, and we’ve been working closely with governments, relevant agencies and airports on what is required to keep our customers and staff safe once travel opens up."
National's Chris Bishop said the Australian bubble was good news "but has come far too late".
"New Zealanders have been able to travel to Australia without quarantining since October 16, but the same won’t happen in New Zealand until well into next year, costing our businesses and their staff dearly.
"Today’s news gives the glimmer of progress without any real substance to it," Bishop said.
"Businesses are still none the wiser on when we will see Australians able to enter New Zealand without quarantining."
ACT leader David Seymour said the "confirmation from the Prime Minister that the Australian travel bubble is on the same go-slow schedule as the Cook Islands is a blow to all New Zealanders and Australians".
It comes two days after New Zealand and the Cook Islands agreed to open a quarantine-free travel bubble by March next year.
On Friday, Queensland was the latest, following NSW, Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania, to allow Kiwis to enter without undergoing quarantine.
SHARE ME