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Bubble's Back: New Zealand Resume Trans-Tasman Travel With New South Wales

New Zealand has lifted its partial suspension of the trans-travel bubble, as fears of a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney eased.

New Zealand has lifted its partial suspension of the trans-travel bubble, as fears of a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney eased.

As the clock ticked over midnight on Monday 10 May, the quarantine-free trans-Tasman bubble agreement between New Zealand and New South Wales resumed.

Last week, New Zealand blocked travel to and from New South Wales after a couple in Sydney with no links to high-risk professions or people tested positive for COVID-19.

Although NSW health officials still haven’t identified the missing link between the positive tests and quarantine, COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins is satisfied the risk to Kiwis has dissipated.

“There has been close liaison between the health agencies,” he said.

Mr Hipkins said the NSW risk assessment was that “the two community cases in Sydney are contained and that there is no evidence of widespread undetected community transmission”.

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Trans-Tasman
Image: Sydney Airport

New Zealand’s travel ban to the entire state was in stark contrast to other Australian states – which largely chose only to temporarily ban travellers who had visited exposure sites.

Kiwi health authorities have not explained their perhaps over-cautious approach, which saw NSW citizens hundreds of kilometres away from Sydney banned from travel.

New Zealand’s COVID-19 website was also slow to reflect this decision – meaning northern NSW citizens who attempted to fly across the Tasman from the Gold Coast and Brisbane were upset when they were turned away at the airport.

However, the bubble is now back up and running, ready to reconnect travellers with loved ones, work colleagues and exciting travel experiences once more.

Stop dreaming and go!

Tourism New Zealand has launched its first major campaign since quarantine-free travel opened between Australia and New Zealand.

Titled ‘Stop Dreaming about New Zealand and Go, the campaign was created in partnership with Special Group and aims to encourage Australians to seize the opportunity for a well-deserved break and jet off to New Zealand.

Highlighting both the welcoming people and stunning landscapes of New Zealand, the fun new ad is centred around a dreaming Australian and a New Zealand guide as they experience a literal ‘dream’ holiday in New Zealand.

Source: AAP