In a recent announcement to the press, New Zealand’s Prime minister Jacinda Ardern stated the country’s step-by-step plan to reopen their borders. The key to the country’s ‘reconnecting roadmap’ is a mass vaccination program this year.

According to the NZ government, the country has enough vaccines stocked to inoculate every person over 15 years of age within the year. The government has chosen to focus primarily on offering first doses, hoping to provide partial vaccination to the majority of the country. 

In a statement from Prime Minister Ardern, 

“[T]he first step in our plan is speeding up the vaccination process to ensure everyone is at least partially vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce the risk and impact of Delta entering [New Zealand].

From today we are moving to a six week period between doses, meaning more people can get their first dose quicker and ensuring everyone is at least partially vaccinated in the coming months. Those who work at our border, have underlying health conditions or wish to be fully vaccinated sooner can still get their second dose after three weeks.”

Ultimately, the government hopes to reopen their borders by 2022. 

The second phase of the roadmap is to allow international travelers into New Zealand via three pathways. These pathways will depend on a traveler’s vaccination status and the infection levels of their country of departure. 

In her statement, Prime Minister Ardern outlined each of the pathways: 

• The Low-Risk Pathway allows vaccinated travelers from low-risk countries a quarantine-free entry into the country.
• The Medium-Risk Pathway is set to include a combination of self-isolation and/or reduced managed isolation quarantine (MIQ) for vaccinated travelers from medium-risk countries.
• The High-Risk Pathway is for unvaccinated travelers or any  travelers from very high-risk to high-risk countries, and will require a full 14 day-MIQ and testing.

New Zealand has yet to create a risk-based ranking system for travelers. 

“This individual risk based approach requires new systems to be set up. We will use the remainder of 2021 to continue to prepare for the operation of borders under this system.

[N]ew Zealand remains in a strong position. We don’t have COVID in the community and our economy is more open than most.

Our plan to reopen our borders both protects the gains we have won, while setting us up to safely reconnect New Zealanders and business with the world and seize the opportunities created by our COVID success.”

NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern 

New Zealand’s concrete, long-term plan to reopen their borders is a source of hope for many who initially planned to study, work, or immigrate to the country prior to the pandemic. Much of the country’s success against COVID-19 has been attributed to their strict travel and border restrictions. While this has protected their citizens in the face of the pandemic, it has also greatly hampered the two of the biggest industries in the country: tourism and international education. 

This proposed roadmap may not only be the best hope for those whose plans to settle or study in the country were disrupted, but for New Zealand itself as well. 

If you’re interested in a post-pandemic future in New Zealand, and would like to learn more about the various immigration pathways to permanent residency, feel free register for one of our private online discussions. Register to an orientation for free here.

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