New Zealand has fully closed the trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia for at least three days following the worsening COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney and other areas of Australia.
The New Zealand government says quarantine free travel from all Australian states and territories will be paused until 21.59 am (AEST) on Tuesday, June 29.
NZ COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said New Zealand would consider implementing a range of measures to make the bubble safer, such as pre-departure testing for all flights from Australia.
“I acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience that comes with this pause, but given the high level of transmissibility of what appears to be the Delta variant and the fact that there are now multiple community clusters, it is the right thing to do to keep COVID-19 out of New Zealand,” Mr Hipkins said in a statement on Saturday night.
The trans-Tasman bubble was already paused for NSW residents and will remain in place until July 7.
The New Zealand government has since defended its snap late-night decision to close the trans-Tasman bubble in the wake of new COVID-19 cases in Australia.
Including Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania – states with no community transmission for some time – in the bubble pause appear contrary to the NZ government’s public plan.
However, the virus appearing in a fly-in fly-out mining community had spooked the government to act – and fast.
“The feedback that we’ve had is that they’ve spread themselves all across Australia. One of the reasons we need some time is to identify exactly where they have been,” COVID-19 Minister Chris Hipkins said.
“950 people leaving there and spreading themselves across Australia does create additional risk in our minds.
“We will use the 72-hour period to consider whether we can narrow that restriction down.”
The bubble pause means Kiwis will be stuck in every Australian state, unable to get home.
The government is operating a “flyer beware” model, with travellers asked to shelter in place when restrictions change.
“Hold tight for now,” Mr Hipkins told Kiwis unwittingly stuck in Australia.
Mr Hipkins said pre-departure testing for inbound travellers was likely to accompany the resumption of the trans-Tasman bubble.
While cases grow in Australia, New Zealand’s long stretch without community transmission continues.
No new local cases were announced on Sunday, giving increased confidence that Wellington has escaped an outbreak or lockdown of its own.