Transtasman bubble confirmed: Kiwis ‘desperately need a break’ – Jacinda Ardern

New Zealanders will be able to cross the trench free from quarantine early next year, barring major roadblocks in Covid-19 and if Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison agrees to the plan.

“I think New Zealanders desperately need a break,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said after making the announcement this afternoon.

Before answering questions, he announced that the Cabinet had agreed, in principle, to establish a travel bubble with Australia in the first quarter of 2021.

However, that was pending confirmation by the Australian cabinet and also depends on there being no significant changes in the Covid-19 circumstances of any of the countries.

On the first point, the Australian government is already optimistic.

His Health Minister Greg Hunt told the media that his government was ready to implement a bubble “as soon as New Zealand is ready.”

“We consciously opened Australia to people who came from New Zealand because the number of cases was negligible,” he said.

“It is good for the economy, good for our airlines and it is good for both countries; it is the first step towards restoring international normality.”

But when the bubble will officially open in the first quarter is not yet known: Ardern said he would make an announcement about this in the New Year.

Last week, however, the Herald reported that the transtasman travel bubble is unlikely to be implemented before February, meaning that March is the only option.

Ardern wouldn’t be drawn to questions about the weather, saying that could lead to premature flight booking or cancellation of MIQ reservations.

Meanwhile, there are still a number of issues that the government must resolve.
For example, arrangements must be made with the airlines regarding crew management for transtasman flights.

The minister responsible for Covid-19, Chris Hipkins, will meet tomorrow with the leadership of Air New Zealand to finalize some of the details.

Ardern also said the government needed to draw up contingency plans in the event of another outbreak in Australia.

“We would have to arrange for potentially thousands from New Zealand to return to New Zealand and numbers that we could not necessarily facilitate and handle isolation.”

He said the government would outline more details of the government’s revival plan later this week.

“New Zealanders in general will appreciate the government’s approach to ensuring that we are not taking unnecessary risks as we enter the summer on a much needed summer vacation for New Zealanders.”

Meanwhile, National says New Zealand is “dragging the chain” when it comes to the travel bubble with Australia.

Chris Bishop, a response spokesman for the Covid-19 party, noted that New Zealanders have been able to travel to Australia without being quarantined since October 16.

But the same will not happen in New Zealand until well into next year; this has cost companies and their staff a lot, he said.

“The news gives a glimmer of progress without any real content. Businesses still don’t know when we will see Australians enter New Zealand without quarantining themselves.”

Today’s Australian travel bubble news follows confirmation that New Zealanders will be able to travel to the Cook Islands without being quarantined for two weeks in the country, or upon returning home.

“The agreement … will allow people to travel more easily between our two countries while recognizing that the priority remains to protect our population from Covid-19,” Ardern said over the weekend.