N.Z. announces full border re-opening in July

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 11 May 2022, 4:29PM

Samoans hoping to see relatives in New Zealand can now visit them starting July following an announcement by the country's Prime Minister on Wednesday of the country fully opening its international borders. 

The announcement by Jacinda Ardern was made during a Business NZ lunch in Auckland on Wednesday afternoon.

The full opening of New Zealand's international borders by 31 July brings forward the initial plan by the New Zealand Government to open for international flights in October. 

The final part of the staged border reopening will be the opening of the country to all visa categories including tourists, workers, families and students.

The New Zealand Herald has reported that Ms Ardern also announced a raft of immigration changes including pathways to residency for highly skilled workers in global demand.

The changes include long-signalled changes to the international education sector and full reopening by July 31 but with measures to stop it being used as a "backdoor route to residency".


Ms Ardern said the changes would help address immediate skill shortages and speed up economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic

The July timeframe also brings it in line with travellers under the Accredited Employer Work Visa, while allowing time for Immigration NZ to prepare to process the visas, with resources already stretched and potentially impacting the processing of one-off residency applications.

"New Zealand is in demand and now fully open for business," Ms Ardern said. "This will be welcome news for families, businesses and our migrant communities. 

"It also provides certainty and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies planning a return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer seasons."

The lifting of restrictions on international borders to New Zealand coincides with announcement this month by Samoa's Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa of Samoa opening up its borders in August or September this year. 

Fiame said the opening of the borders will start this month, though exclusively to all Samoan citizens travelling in for various purposes and those contracted to work on island. 

The news is a relief to many Samoans living overseas who have not been able to see families since COVID-19 ban and restrictions were imposed in early 2020. 

By Matai'a Lanuola Tusani T - Ah Tong 11 May 2022, 4:29PM
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