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PM warns Kiwis: Come home now

Jonathan Guildford jonathan.guildford@stuff.co.nz

‘Our team of five million has worked hard to put us in a strong position . . . We will not risk that.’’ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

Thousands of Kiwis are in a race to get back into the country after the travel bubble with Australia burst.

Quarantine-free travel from all Australian states and territories has been suspended for at least eight weeks, as of 11.59pm last night.

More than 20,000 New Zealanders have travelled to Australia, where a national emergency was declared yesterday, since the bubble opened on April 19 and not returned.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned those who did not want to be across the ditch long term should ‘‘come home now’’.

Australia is in the grip of multiple outbreaks that have forced three states into lockdown – posing an ‘‘increasing’’ health risk to New Zealanders.

‘‘Now is the time for a suspension to ensure New Zealanders aren’t put at undue risk from Covid-19, and to ensure we retain our hard-won gains. Our team of five million has worked hard to put us in a strong position both health-wise and economically. We will not risk that.’’

For the next seven days there will be managed green flights available from all Australian states and territories, except New South Wales. The state recorded 136 new cases of Covid-19 yesterday – the highest daily number since the Delta variant emerged on July 16.

People travelling from outside NSW will require proof of a negative pre-departure test to get on a flight, but will not be required to go into managed isolation during that seven-day window.

Those who have been in NSW will have to go into a managed isolation facility for 14 days.

Travellers from Victoria must adhere to the state’s current lockdown measures, self-isolate upon arrival into New Zealand and get a Covid-19 test on day three.

After the seven-day travel window ends, all travellers must secure a spot in MIQ to be able to return.

Officials have warned this may not be immediate, and travellers will need to await further information about flight availability.

The suspension will be reviewed in September.

In the 95 days since the bubble opened, 312,000 people have travelled in either direction, and multiple state-specific pauses have happened.

The Government is working closely with airlines to ensure there are flights available over the sevenday period, and extend it for a few days if necessary. Seats on managed flights will be limited to the number of MIQ spaces available.

Of the 4000 rooms available across 32 facilities, 3784 were occupied as of midnight on July 22. The Government will be making 580 MIQ rooms available between July 28 and August 8 for those returning from Australia.

Ardern acknowledged the ‘‘frustration and inconvenience’’ that came with interruptions to trans-Tasman travel, but said the suspension would give Australia time to manage its outbreaks while ensuring Kiwis were safe.

The announcement disappointed but did not surprise those affected in the South Island.

Westland mayor Bruce Smith said the decision was a further ‘‘kick in the guts’’ for West Coast businesses, particularly those reliant on international tourists such as those in Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.

‘‘There’s a lot of people sitting and waiting, and holding their breath hoping things will get moving ... it’s pretty disappointing. They [West Coast operators] will be stressing, the poor buggers.’’

Peter and Susanne Wood, who run Ski Time in Methven, said they received their first cancellation from booked Australian guests 19 minutes after the announcement.

Ski Time provides accommodation, one of the region’s leading restaurants and boutique conference facilities.

Susanne Wood said they expected many more cancellations.

‘‘We were pretty full over the next month because of school holidays across the Tasman. Some of our guests from Australia are already in the country so their bookings aren’t affected but those who aren’t here yet will be cancelling.’’

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2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-07-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281517934146086

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