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New Zealand April reopening plan ‘too late’

New Zealand has said that fully vaccinated foreign nationals will be permitted to travel to New Zealand from April 30, 2022, but international education stakeholders worry the plan places the country’s providers at a competitive disadvantage, with other destinations opening earlier.

There is now a path back to New Zealand for international students, but stakeholders worry the reopening plan is too far behind those of competitor destinations. Photo: pexels

English New Zealand noted that, with Australia opening from December 1, there is a risk that New Zealand will permanently lose market share

International students will be included in the third step of the border opening plan, behind fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and residence-class visa holders from Australia from January 17 and citizens and residence-class visa holders from other countries (not including Very High-Risk countries) from February 14.

Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed from the Very High-Risk classification in early December 2021, while Papua New Guinea will continue to be classified as Very High-Risk.

“It’s very encouraging that as a country we are now in a position to move towards greater normality,” Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins said.

Managed isolation and quarantine requirements will be removed for travellers that have proof of full vaccination a negative pre-departure test, test on arrival and a final test before entering the community after self-isolation for seven days.

They will also have to provide a passenger declaration about travel history.

“This news is a great boost for the international education sector,” Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao chief executive Grant McPherson said.

“We will keep education providers and international students up to date as we learn more on the detail of how the changes will work,” he said.

However, English New Zealand noted that, with Australia opening from December 1, there is a risk that New Zealand will permanently lose market share.

“The problem is that we’re so much behind everybody else and New Zealand will just, I think, permanently lose market share to the rest of the world because of how slow we have been to act,” English New Zealand chair Darren Conway told RNZ.

“We’re now going to be the last of the traditional international education countries that will be still closed”

“We’re now going to be the last of the traditional international education countries that will be still either closed to international students or requiring students to come through managed isolation,” Universities New Zealand chief executive Chris Whelan added.

“It’s great to have the date at the end of April for reopening but it’s still going to put us at least six months behind every other country,” he said.

“These settings will continue to be reviewed against the risk posed by travellers entering New Zealand,” Hipkins added, with further details on how self-isolation will be implemented set to be released in December 2021.

“There continues to be a global pandemic with cases surging in Europe and other parts of the world, so we do need to be very careful when reopening the border.”

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11 Responses to New Zealand April reopening plan ‘too late’

  1. Except for the high-risk countries, NZ should open the border for fully vaccinated international students and their families to travel to NZ. They also need time before commencing their course. Too slow and not realistic planning will affect not only NZ country but also their potential international students.

  2. I am waiting for more than 2 years to enter new zealand for work purpose. I am fully vaccinàted Sri Lankan but still i am unable to come to new zealand. Why this much delay.

  3. My boyfriend is in new Zealand holding work to resident visa.here i’m waiting till he comes for our wedding.and he need to go back.please let us know that can he comes and go back (srilankan citizen)

  4. We are planning to visit my family in NZ. I saw a news that says borders are open from 30th April. But after 2 days i saw a news which says again it was postponed till august 5th. Which news is correct and can we apply after 30th April?

  5. Its TIME!!!!! If you are fully vaccinated AND have a covid test before you hop on plane & a rapid test when you land – there should be zero reason to stop citizens coming back in. Delta is already in NZ!!! Stop separating people. 2 years is a very long time.

  6. As much as the concerns are real so is the reality of newzealand not opening its borders to international students,as a parent of a undergraduate student ,who wishes to explore and experience the university life,I feel very anxious about the delay ..As far as the vaccination protocol is complete for the international student there should be a urge to take them offshore ..beat the fears ,covid will never leave why is newzealand not taking this fact into consideration and acting upon opening up for good ?

  7. NZ is not opening because it has seen what is happening in Australia. Meanwhile, NZ is doing well.

    Australia has very high vaccination rates, and low death rates, but opening (in January) was too soon. Health systems are full and the economy is slowing.

    If children are vaccinated and adults have their booster shots, NZ will open….so April looks like a smart move.

  8. What about offshore visa processing?? Have you ever think how these activities are adversely affecting the future plans of offshore people. It’s an request to immigration Newzealand to look after the offshore visa processing even if they plan to open borders after sometime.
    Atleast do the processing and give some hope so we people can also get some future security.

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