The Australian government has confirmed plans have been finalised for a (one way) trans-Tasman bubble.
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said stage 1 of a travel zone with New Zealand would see quarantine-free travel into New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
“This is the first stage in what we hope to see as a trans-Tasman bubble between the two countries not just that state and that territory,” he said, adding that the borders will reopen with New Zealand on Friday 16 October.
However, the changes will not allow Australians to travel to New Zealand.
Today, however, NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern reiterated: “In our view we are not ready to have quarantine-free travel with Australia. They have a very different strategy to us, and so they’re making that decision … but for now we of course have to keep our New Zealanders safe.”
It’s unclear when other bubbles may occur with covid-free countries like New Caledonia.
