The Government has confirmed the border will reopen to vaccinated New Zealanders coming from Australia at 11:59pm on February 27.
From 11:59pm on March 13, Kiwis from elsewhere can return, as well as some skilled workers and those on Working Holiday Scheme visas.
Over the following months, others will be allowed into the country, including international students, anyone from Australia, and those with visa-waiver travel.
Finally, in October, the border will fully reopen to visitors from anywhere around the world.
What you need to know:
- There were 147 new community cases in New Zealand of any variant on Thursday - Northland (14), Auckland (90), Waikato (15), Lakes (9), Bay of Plenty (8), Hawke’s Bay (7), Capital and Coast (4)
- There were 13 people in hospital: one in North Shore, five in Middlemore, two in Auckland City, three in Rotorua, one in Hawke's Bay and one in Wellington.
- The interval between the second dose of the vaccine and the booster is being shortened to three months, rather than four months
- The Government has released a five-step plan for reopening New Zealand. This includes Kiwis from Australia bypassing MIQ from February 28. The plan is below:
These live updates have finished.
6pm - The Government has released its plan for reopening to the world, with Kiwis arriving from Australia the first to be able to skip MIQ and self-isolate from February 28.
At step 2, from March 14, self-isolation will apply to Kiwis in other parts of the world, as well as skilled workers earning at least 1.5 times the median wage (NZ$27 an hour), and people with Working Holiday Scheme visas.
The border will then open to offshore temporary visa holders, who can still meet the relevant visa requirements, from April 13, as part of step 3. The Government will also allow up to 5000 international students in time for the second semester. Further exemptions for critical workforces that do not meet the 1.5 times the median wage will be considered.
5:25pm - Air New Zealand says more than 8000 international seats have been booked since the border announcement.
"Kiwis can't wait to return and we're ready to welcome them," they said on Twitter.
5:05pm - There are two new locations of interest. They are:
- Pelorus Bridge Café, Nelson, January 27 from 12:15pm to 12:35pm
- The Rusty Tractor Café & Trading Store Kerikeri, January 28 from 12:09pm to 12:50pm.
4:40pm - There are still three DHBs yet to reach the 90 percent goal for second doses. They are:
- Northland: 87 percent of eligible population fully vaccinated, 5145 people remaining to hit target
- Tairāwhiti: 89 percent fully vaccinated, 212 people remaining
- Whanganui: 89 percent fully vaccinated, 288 people remaining.
Northland is still yet to reach 90 percent first doses. It has given 89 percent of its eligible population one dose, with just 334 people remaining to hit 90 percent.
4:15pm - There is one new location of interest. It is:
- Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua, January 29 from 4pm to 5pm.
3:55pm - It's jubilation for many Kiwis stuck overseas following the Government's border reopening announcement but ex-pat Kiwi TV presenter Dan Wootton 'is "mad".
Wootton, who hosts a show on UK's GBNews and writes for the Daily Mail, was left with a sour taste in his mouth, demanding "cruel woman" Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern let him see his family.
"Kiwis wanting to return will still have to self-isolate for TEN DAYS. That makes it impossible for folk like me with a job to get home. Just let me see my family you cruel woman," he wrote on Twitter.
Wootton, who has been a vocal critic of the Prime Minister, said Ardern is "embracing a hermit kingdom policy" and Kiwis are fed up.
"None of this happens for weeks or, in some cases, months. I repeat, there’s nothing kind about a leader like Ardern embracing a hermit kingdom policy. But I KNOW Kiwis are fed up and want to be released from this draconian insanity."
3:35pm - Over in Australia, New South Wales has recorded 12,632 new cases and 38 deaths in the past 48 hours.
There are 2578 people in hospital, 160 of whom are in ICU.
In the state of Victoria, there are 12,157 new cases and 34 deaths.
A total 752 people are in hospital, 82 of whom are in ICU and 29 on ventilators.
And in Queensland, there are 8643 new cases and nine deaths.
There are 749 people in hospital, 71 of whom are in ICU.
3:10pm - There are seven new locations of interest. They are:
- Hawke's Bay Polo Club Waipatu, January 26 from 1:30pm to 5:30pm
- Papatoetoe Centennial Pool and Leisure Centre Papatoetoe children's pools, January 29 from 11:30am to 12:45pm
- The Coffee Club Rotorua, January 30 from 9:15am to 9:25am
- BP Connect Geyser Rotorua, January 30 from 11:15am to 11:20am
- Subway Taihape, January 30 from 2:15pm to 2:35pm
- New World Island Bay, January 30 from 5:30pm to 5:40pm
- The Warehouse Lyall Bay, January 31 from 11:31am to 11:40am.
3pm - The staged reopening of New Zealand's borders amid the COVID-19 pandemic announced by the Government on Thursday has received mostly positive feedback from the travel and tourism industries, but some organisations say ditching the requirement of travellers to isolate at home is key to the tourism industry making any progress.
The five-step opening starts later this month when fully vaccinated New Zealanders and other eligible travellers will be able to skip MIQ and instead self-isolate for at least a week. The final step is scheduled for October, when the Government says the border will "fully reopen to visitors from anywhere in the world".
NZ Airports called the announcement an "important first step in reopening the border", but said the requirement for travellers to self-isolate upon arrival will "prevent any meaningful recovery in demand for travel to New Zealand".
2:35pm - Here is the Ministry of Health's summary of the COVID-19 cases in New Zealand, including Thursday's cases:
2:45pm - Air New Zealand says it is "thrilled" with today's announcement from the Government about allowing more people to enter Aotearoa as border restrictions are eased amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kiwis will be able to return to New Zealand from Australia from February 27, and from the rest of the world March 14.
"Today's announcement is incredibly exciting news for New Zealanders overseas. Having the certainty they will be touching down on home soil and reuniting with friends and whānau in just over three weeks will come as a relief," said the airline's chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty.
2:20pm - There are two new locations of interest:
- The Wholemeal Cafe Takaka - Saturday, January 29 between 7:30am and 8:30am
- Papatoetoe Centennial Pool and Leisure Centre Papatoetoe - Saturday, January 29 between 11:30am and 12:45pm
2pm - More than two in five workers are planning to look for a new job, a sign the 'great resignation' could hit New Zealand shores over the coming year, new research shows.
There's been talk of a 'great resignation' during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people re-evaluate their priorities, and/or to take advantage of new opportunities. While it's been largely anecdotal, New Zealand's tight labour market is well-documented, unemployment hitting an all-time low of 3.2 percent in the December quarter.
Employee Sentiment Index research released by HR software provider ELMO on Thursday, shows looking for a new job is a priority for a growing number of Kiwis.
1:45pm - The Restaurant Association says the reopening approach "presents more challenges" to hospitality.
"Whilst it’s a relief to see the borders finally reopening, our industry desperately needs skilled workers and the restrictions at stage 1 and 2 appear to signal a block on us accessing the skills to help our sector recover," says chief executive Marisa Bidois.
"Immigration New Zealand has been in contact with us on their immigration rebalance but we are still awaiting specific information on the proposed changes and how these will affect the industry.
"It appears that the Government is using the border closures and the reopening approach to serve a wider strategy which ultimately blocks industries like ours from accessing the workforce we need.
"Price increases in our industry are already happening as a result of supply chain issues but there really is only so many price increases the NZ consumer can sustain so raising salaries to the levels needed to be able to meet the immigration criteria is in fact, not sustainable. All of these extra costs coming on top of a long period of business closures and reduced revenues.
"What will be welcome is the return of those on working holiday visas along with tourists, particularly for our holiday hotspots who are desperately in need of visitors.
"We see the isolation periods being a deterrent to visitors so question how many visitors we will see back in New Zealand so while it is encouraging to see the plan, we do not see this being the end of the challenges our sector will face over the next 12 months."
1:35pm - Air New Zealand is "thrilled" with the Government's decision to allow vaccinated Kiwis to return from Australia without MIQ from February 28 and for Kiwis elsewhere to come back from March 14.
"Today’s announcement is incredibly exciting news for New Zealanders overseas. Having the certainty they will be touching down on home soil and reuniting with friends and whānau in just over three weeks will come as a relief.
"We expect to have more than 300 flights available between New Zealand and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and the Gold Coast for the month of March alone. Once we have a clearer view as to the level of demand, we will adjust the schedule accordingly, but we're confident there will be seats available for those who need them.”
"As expected, we have seen strong demand following the announcement with our first flights on the 28 February almost sold out."
1:25pm - Here's more from the Ministry of Health:
"There were 36,230 booster doses administered yesterday, taking the total to date to 1,399,350. Also, 5,725 paediatric doses were given yesterday, bringing the total to 183,706.
"With Omicron in New Zealand, one of the best things you can do is get your booster as soon as it is due – and from tomorrow more than 1 million people will be eligible for their booster after the interval was reduced from four to three months.
"Boosters lower your chances of getting very sick and being hospitalised. Being boosted also helps slow the spread of the virus. If you’re over 18 and your booster is due, please get it now.
"The Waikato region will today reach 90% partial vaccination (first dose) for Māori. As of midnight, Waikato was only 25 first doses off becoming the 11th DHB area to achieve this vaccine milestone.
Waitangi weekend reminder
"If you are going away this Waitangi weekend, please have plans in place in the event you are identified as a close contact, get COVID-19 symptoms, or find out you have COVID-19.
"You are likely to need to self-isolate wherever you become a close contact or test positive, so there may be extra costs involved in paying for accommodation and changing your travel plans.
"There are limited alternative accommodation options for those who are unable to safely isolate in their own homes or if they have travelled elsewhere, and as case numbers rise, the accommodation will be focused on those with high needs.
"Travel can also contribute to the spread of COVID-19, so it is also important people going on holiday this weekend take measures to reduce the risk of both catching and spreading the virus.
'Anyone with any COVID-19 symptoms should not travel – they should get a test and isolate at home until a negative result is returned.
"The most common early symptoms of the Omicron variant are a sore or scratchy throat, and a runny nose. If you have any of these symptoms, please get a test.
"All travellers should wear a mask in indoor settings, physical distance, and scan in using the NZ COVID Tracer app."
1:15pm - Today’s cases:
We are reporting new community cases in Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Lakes, Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay, and the Wellington region.
Northland
Today we are reporting 14 new cases in Northland, across Kerikeri, Kaitaia, and Whangārei.
Of these cases, nine are linked to existing cases and investigations are underway to determine links for two cases.
The three remaining cases reside in Northland, though were originally allocated as Auckland cases, and are being transferred for management to the Northland public health unit. Of these cases, two are linked and one is yet to be connected to the outbreak.
Auckland
There are 90 cases to report in Auckland today.
Health and welfare providers are now supporting 1,534 people in the region to isolate at home, including 568 cases.
Waikato
Today there are 15 cases to report in the Waikato.
Case investigations so far have determined most of these cases are linked to previously reported cases.
Lakes
We are reporting nine new cases in the Lakes district today, with eight linked to existing cases and one yet to be connected to the outbreak with investigations underway.
Eight of today’s cases are in the Rotorua district and one is in the Taupo district.
Bay of Plenty
There are eight cases to report in the Bay of Plenty today, with seven linked to existing cases and one yet to connected to the outbreak.
Of these eight cases, five are in Tauranga, one is in the Western Bay of Plenty, and two are in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Hawke’s Bay
Today we are reporting seven new cases in Hawkes Bay.
Of these cases, five are linked to existing cases and, at this stage, the remaining two are yet to be connected to the outbreak with investigations underway.
Wellington region
There are four new cases to report in the Wellington region today, with three linked to existing cases and the fourth with links yet to be established.
Of these four cases, two are in Wellington and two are in Porirua.
1:10pm - There are 147 new community cases and 44 new cases at the border, the Ministry of Health says. Thirteen people are in hospital, but none are in ICU or HDU.
COVID-19 vaccine update
- Vaccines administered to date (percentage of eligible people): 4,044,518 first doses (96%); 3,967,611 second doses (94%); 1,399,350 booster doses (70%)
- Vaccines administered yesterday: 1,113 first doses; 2,030 second doses; 5,725 paediatric doses; 36,230 booster doses.
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 513,411 first doses (89.9%); 487,275 second doses (85%).
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 277,681 first doses (97%); 269,841 second doses (94%).
- Paediatric vaccines administered to date (percentage of 5-11-year-olds): 183,706 first doses (39%)
- Māori (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 24,544 first doses (21%)
- Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 5-11): 13,894 first doses (28%)
Vaccination rates for all DHBs (percentage of eligible people aged 12 +)
- Northland DHB: First doses (89.8%); second doses (87%)
- Auckland Metro DHBs: First doses (97%); second doses (96%)
- Waikato DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%)
- Bay of Plenty DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (92%)
- Lakes DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
- MidCentral DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
- Tairawhiti DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (89%)
- Whanganui DHB: First doses (92%); second doses (89%)
- Hawke’s Bay: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
- Taranaki DHB: First doses (94%); second doses (92%)
- Wairarapa DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (94%)
- Capital and Coast DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (97%)
- Hutt Valley DHB: First doses (97%); second doses (95%)
- Nelson Marlborough DHB: First doses (96%); second doses (95%)
- West Coast DHB: First doses (93%); second doses (90%)
- Canterbury DHB: First doses (99%); second doses (98%)
- South Canterbury DHB: First doses (95%); second doses (93%)
- Southern DHB: First doses (98%); second doses (96%)
Hospitalisations
- Cases in hospital: 13; North Shore: 1; Middlemore: 5; Auckland: 2; Rotorua: 3; Hawkes Bay: 1, Wellington: 1
- Average age of current hospitalisations: 56
- Cases in ICU or HDU: 0
- Vaccination status of current hospitalisations (Northern Region wards only): Unvaccinated or not eligible (1 case / 20%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (N/A cases / 0%); fully vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (4 cases / 80%); unknown (N/A case / 0%).
Cases
- Seven day rolling average of community cases: 113
- Seven day rolling average of border cases: 47
- Number of new community cases: 147
- Number of new cases identified at the border: 44
- Location of new community cases: Northland (14), Auckland (90), Waikato (15), Lakes (9), Bay of Plenty (8), Hawke’s Bay (7), Capital and Coast (4)
- Number of community cases (total): 12,421 (in current community outbreaks)
- Cases epidemiologically linked (total): 9,297
- Number of active cases (total): 1,121 (cases identified in the past 21 days and not yet classified as recovered)
- Confirmed cases (total): 16,630
Contacts
- Number of active contacts being managed (total): 5,506
- Percentage who has received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements): 77%
- Percentage who has returned at least one result: 75%
Tests
- Number of tests total (last 24 hours): 24,909
- Tests rolling average (last 7 days): 19,880
- Auckland tests total (last 24 hours): 12,324
Wastewater
- No unusual detections to report.
NZ COVID Tracer
- Poster scans in the 24 hours to midday yesterday: 2,457,459
- Manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 50,204
My Vaccine Pass
Due to a technical error, these latest figures are currently unavailable, though the Ministry’s IT team is actively working to resolve the issue.
NZ COVID Tracer
- On 2 February, poster scans in the 24 hours to midday: 2,318,267
- On 2 February, manual diary entries in the 24 hours to midday: 50,627
1pm - We are now awaiting the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 update. It should be through shortly.
12:50pm - Here is Dr Lesley Gray, a senior lecturer at the University of Otago's department of Primary Health Care & General Practice, reacting to the announcement:
"The planned phased re-opening of the border will be welcome news for the many NZers who have been stuck overseas during this pandemic. The timeframe of re-opening borders between the end of February and October 2022 signals priorities for returning NZ citizens and others with self-isolation and testing similar to other countries. MIQ will continue for any unvaccinated travellers to Aotearoa New Zealand.
"That Aotearoa New Zealand has, to date, managed to eliminate earlier COVID-19 variants and manage Delta in a way that many countries were not able to, is very much aligned with the actions taken to date, including MIQ and the border restriction system. Now that some 94% of the eligible adult population are double vaccinated and the booster programme is underway it is reasonable to look to staged re-opening, however we still have many people including children who are not (yet) vaccinated and those who will be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Therefore the arrangements for self-isolation and associated testing must be rigorous and able to be trusted by the general population. I welcome information on how this will be managed to ensure no returnee breaches self-isolation.
"With the Omicron variant now in the community, much can change between now and the 20th February therefore it is understandable people may be nervous about booking their travel back to NZ, in case the Government has to pause these re-opening plans for a second time.”
12:45pm - The Government's plan hasn't been well received by Dan Wootton, the Kiwi who hosts a show on UK's GBNews, writes for the Daily Mail and has been a vocal critic of Jacinda Ardern.
"Before anyone gets excited about Dear Leader Jacinda Ardern’s so called reopening of New Zealand, Kiwis wanting to return will still have to self-isolate for TEN DAYS. That makes it impossible for folk like me with a job to get home. Just let me see my family you cruel woman. Mad.
"PS: None of this happens for weeks or, in some cases, months. I repeat, there’s nothing kind about a leader like Ardern embracing a hermit kingdom policy. But I KNOW Kiwis are fed up and want to be released from this draconian insanity. Keep fighting for what’s right!"
Ardern has suggested self-isolation will reduce to seven days as New Zealand moves to the second phase of the Omicron plan.
12:35pm - Export NZ has welcomed the reopening announcement.
"While commodity exports have done remarkably well during challenging times, New Zealand’s manufacturing and tech exporters have been doing it increasingly tough due to the inability to travel freely," says director of advocacy Catherine Beard.
"They’ve navigated global logistics disruptions and price increases, and exporters will now finally be able to plan business travel with confidence.
"I know they will be keen to reconnect with old customers and forge connections with new ones."
Beard also welcomed confirmation that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will lead trade delegations to markets this year.
"Like the Prime Minister said today, New Zealand is in demand. By leading trade delegations to Australia, Asia, Europe and the United States, the Prime Minister has demonstrated the importance trade will have in our economic recovery as we all look to find our footing in a post-COVID environment."
12:20pm - The Greens want additional steps put in place to protect Kiwis as the border reopens.
"There is no doubt that reopening the border has increased the risk of worsening the peak of any Omicron outbreak and introduction of future variants," says Dr Elizabeth Kerekere, Green Party spokesperson for COVID-19 Response.
"Which is why the Government needs to support Māori and Pacific providers to vaccinate children and give boosters to their whānau before we open to self-isolation.
"N95 or equivalent masks should also be given free to those who cannot afford them, and more support given to Māori, Pasifika and community health providers to support people in self-isolation."
Ricardo Menéndez March, the Green Party’s spokesperson for Immigration, said priority should be given to those "who want to come home to reconnect with whānau, including those who will be making Aotearoa their home".
"The Government should allow for the processing of visas for families as part of the first stage of reopening for non-citizens.
"Migrants stuck offshore who lost their visas because of our border settings should also be issued replacement visas and allowed to come back safely in April alongside other visa holders."
12:10pm - There are four new locations of interest:
- Secret Spot Hot Tubs Rotorua - Sunday, January 30 between 4pm and 5pm
- Flight NZ0566 Christchurch to Auckland - Sunday, January 30 between 6pm and 7:25pm
- Liquor Barn Lynmore - Saturday, January 29 between 4:15pm and 4:35pm
- The Backyard Gastropub Whatawhata - Thursday, January 27 between 6:50pm and 7:30pm
12:05pm - National's Christopher Luxon has welcomed the border reopening plan.
"Today’s announcement is a victory for the 100,000 people who signed National’s petition to end MIQ and the one million Kiwis around the world who, for the last two years, have been blocked from coming home to their family and friends.
"It’s also good news for businesses and workplaces that rely on New Zealand being open to the world so that they can get the critical workers they need into the country.
"I know there will be people who will be sceptical or nervous that the Government might not keep to these dates, so National will hold them to account and ensure they stick to these commitments."
11:55am - Modeller Michael Plank has reacted to the announcement:
"At the moment, MIQ is intercepting a large number of cases of Covid-19 at the border, preventing repeated re-introductions of Omicron into the community. This is helping us to slow the spread of Omicron by allowing our contact tracing system to function more effectively and buying time for more people to get boosted. High booster coverage will be crucial to avoid overloading our healthcare system.
"Once the Omicron outbreak really takes off, border cases will start to make less of a difference relative to the expected large number of community cases. One of the concerns with re-opening the border is that our current average of 50 border cases per day could easily turn into 500 cases a day if travel restrictions were removed completely and the number of arrivals sharply increased. The staged re-opening means that travel numbers will increase progressively rather than in one big jump, which mitigates against this risk.
"The timeframe for the first re-opening step on 27 February looks reasonable. By that time, it is likely that daily case numbers will be in the thousands and the vast majority of vaccinated adults will be eligible for their booster. Self-isolation and testing requirements for arrivals will dampen the effect of border cases on community transmission, while removing the bottleneck of MIQ and allowing us to monitor for possible new variants."
11:45am - Regarding the long-term quarantine service, Ardern says she anticipates there will be a dedicated workforce and purpose designed facilities. They could be purpose built or existing facilities enhanced for quarantine use.
11:40am - Fully vaccinated is first and second dose, Ardern says. Not every country has the same availability of boosters and the Prime Minister doesn't want to exclude people coming from those countries.
Step four (the "by July date") will come forward when there has been a large number of Omicron cases in New Zealand, Ardern says.
The Prime Minister says Immigration NZ will be resourced to administer all the visas it will need to. That's why visitors who need visas will have to wait until at least October. That time will allow for visa processing.
11:35am - When does self-isolation end? Ardern says she expects over time the length will reduce from 10 days to seven days. Those requirements will be constantly reviewed and will eventually become unnecessary, she says.
The Prime Minister says the delay from mid-January to the end of February provided Kiwis time to get boosters and she says these are "very firm" dates. She says this is a very balanced decision and New Zealand has had time before an outbreak to allow Kiwis to be vaccinated.
She says this is an important day for New Zealand, setting down dates to allow people to reconnect and for exporters. This is a milestone "we are ready for", Ardern says.
The early steps are "fixed", but step four could come forward. This will happen "by July". She says Kiwis can plan for the dates announced on Thursday.
11:30pm - There are a number of new locations of interest, including three close-contact locations. They are:
- Papatoetoe Centennial Pool and Leisure Centre - Saturday, January 29 between 11:30am and 12:45pm
- Flight NZ8029 Auckland to Napier - Thursday, January 27 between 5:45pm and 7pm
- Flight NZ5002 Napier to Auckland - Wednesday, January 26 between 6:15am and 7:20am
11:25am - The Prime Minister will hold a press conference shortly. We should be able to live stream that above.
11:20am - Ardern has confirmed she will lead trade delegations and trade-supporting visits into Australia, Asia, the United States and Europe this.
"New Zealand is in demand. Our exports are at record highs, people want to live and work here, international students want to study here, our friends and whānau want to return.
"Today’s reconnecting plan will help grow an already strong export base, bring in new skills, address the shortages standing in the way of growth, and build new connections with the world."
11:15am - Here are the details from the Prime Minister about self-isolation and testing of returnees:
"While we will no longer require people to enter managed isolation, at this stage travellers will be asked to follow broadly the same requirements we have in New Zealand for close contacts at the time of their travel. That’s because, as travellers, it is highly likely that they’ll come in contact with the highly transmissible Omicron variant on their journey, a fact you can see in our current numbers at the border, even with pre departure testing in place.
"That means currently, returning New Zealanders will need to self-isolate for 10 days. But as the isolation period drops for close contacts here in New Zealand, as it does in phase two of our Omicron response, so too will returnees only need to isolate for 7 days.
"And so our system for travellers and contacts will be broadly aligned.
"When it comes to testing, all arrivals will be given three rapid antigen tests upon arrival at the airport, to take home. One for use on day 0/1, and one for use on day 5/6, with one extra for backup. That gives us the best chance of identifying cases that have come across the border.
"If a positive result is returned at any point, returnees will be asked to get a follow up PCR test at a community testing station. That will help us to monitor any possible variants that may emerge. It will also help us assess when it’s safe to lift self-isolation requirements."
MIQ will continue for "high-risk travellers such as those who are unvaccinated".
"That means the Defence Force will begin the process of withdrawing from MIQ, with some hotels returning to traditional use to support the return of our tourists. A core quarantine capacity will be maintained that can be scaled up as required, which will form the basis of a future National Quarantine Service. More on this in the future."
11:10am - Just in: The Government has confirmed the border will reopen to vaccinated New Zealanders coming from Australia at 11:59pm on February 27.
It's released a five-step plan that lays out how the reopening process will work:
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says while MIQ is being dialled back, there are still requirements for returnees.
"The self-isolation requirements for travellers will mirror the way we treat contacts of cases in New Zealand. That means a current requirement of 10 days, but that will drop to 7 days when we move to phase two of our pandemic plan as cases rise," Hipkins says.
"Isolation requirements will be kept under constant review, and we do expect them to reduce. The reopening to visa free tourists is also likely to be brought forward, with July being the latest date we anticipate this happening.
"All arrivals will be provided three rapid antigen tests at the airport, one for use on day 0/1, and one for use on day 5/6, with one extra for backup. This approach means we will continue to identify cases that enter though the border and limit their wider contact with the community.
"In addition we will continue to whole genome sequence all returnees who test positive to rapidly identify and respond to new variants"
Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said steps three to five represent a "significant step forward" in addressing skills and labour shortages.
"Reopening of the border to a range of visa holders is a critical part in our plan to rebuild from COVID," Faafoi said.
"From 13 March, just over 5 weeks away, we will start re-opening Working Holiday Visa schemes. This will supply urgently needed workers for the tourism, hospitality, wine and horticultural sectors as well as providing some much-needed visitor spending.
"Also from 13 March, we’re simplifying the application process for the critical worker border exception. Skilled workers with job offers paying at least 1.5 times, instead of double, the median wage will be able to come in without the need to demonstrate that their skills aren’t readily obtainable in New Zealand.
"Before COVID, New Zealand was issuing over one million visitor visas per year. What’s being announced today is about gearing up in manageable steps to fully re-open as safely as possible to enable us to live with COVID but not be overwhelmed by it."
11:05am - Jacinda Ardern says it feels like "time is in two parts".
"There was life before, and now life with COVID. But that also means there will be life after COVID too. A life where we have adapted. Where we have some normality back, and where the weather can once again take its rightful place as our primary topic of conversation. We are well on our way to reaching that destination. We’re just not quite there yet."
She recalls making the decision to close the border, firstly requiring travellers to self-isolate before MIQ was set up.
"It’s easy to hear the word MIQ and immediately associate it with heartache. There is no question, that for New Zealand, it has been one of the hardest parts of the pandemic. But the reason that it is right up there as one of the toughest things we have experienced, is in part because large-scale loss of life is not."
Ardern notes that Omicron has pushed back the reopening date. January 17 was originally meant to be the day Kiwis could return from Australia without MIQ.
11am - The Prime Minister is about release the Government's reopening plan. You can watch that above.
10:45am - A person has tested positive for COVID-19 while at Wellington Hospital on Wednesday. They were being treated for a non-COVID issue, RNZ says, but were showing symptoms. They are now isolating on a COVID ward.
10:35am - There is concern New Zealand's pandemic-driven brain gain of skilled workers is turning into a "brain drain" as young people head overseas.
Those spoken to by RNZ were sick of waiting for the pandemic to end and prepared to roll the dice with COVID-19.
Provisional migration figures from Stats NZ show there have been more people leaving the country year-on-year than arriving each month since April 2021.
The most recent figures were a net loss of 4000 people in the year to November.
10:20am - As New Zealand prepares for the Omicron outbreak to worsen, cases are also being found across the Pacific, including five in Tonga. Omicron has also been detected in Kiribati, while Samoa has had a number of new border cases.
Yvonne Underhill-Sem, an associate professor in Pacific Studies at Te Wānanga o Waipapa, has provided expert reaction to the Pacific infections.
"The rising number of cases of COVID-19 in the Pacific, while worrying, is remarkable for the time it has taken to grow in most countries. Most leaders understand the fragility of their health systems, the close living arrangements of many citizens, and the time lags for external support.
"So, informed by advice from an active network of health practitioners, Pacific leaders acted quickly to tighten border entry requirements. Citizens and the tourist sector were dismayed, for different reasons, but the policies remained. In many cases, tightly managed borders led to innovations like local barter systems, enthusiastic local sports programmes, and a return to growing and eating local food. Governments now must support these initiatives as they pivot back towards meeting their longer term sustainable economic aspirations.
"This is a complex policy space for all Pacific governments – dealing with a global pandemic that affects your in-country citizens as well as those mobile citizens living around the world, sometimes in highly precarious situations such as seafarers or seasonal workers. Dealing with COVID-19 and the rising number of cases, does not halt the imperatives of other equally complex and dire environmental, social, economic, and political concerns. Slow onset climate change is transforming environments and in the process ways of harvesting food from land and water. Shifts in political economic power in the Pacific region are leading to internal tensions. Gender-based violence continues to harm women and girls in all their diversities and haunt our communities. We need to continue dealing with these systemic problems and not give everything away to COVID-19.
"The issues that occupy daily conversations across the Pacific connect past experiences with pressing immediate needs and hopeful trajectories for the future. The international development community needs to keep this in mind if they want their COVID-19 responses to build long-term resilience and not just self-serving protection. Dealing successfully with the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases across the Pacific begins with careful attention to country- and community-specific contexts – then it will be possible to consider other pressing concerns."
9:55am - Some families are enduring five-week managed isolation and quarantine stays after testing positive to Covid-19, and purposely trying to speed up infecting each other.
Meanwhile, others have learnt they are not currently infected, just historical cases, and fear the border case tally is not accurate.
They are among the voices calling for a shift to self-isolation for returnees, ahead of an announcement by the prime minister today.
9:30am - While the Government is set to announce its reopening plan, the Charlotte Bellis case is not going away. Her lawyer on Wednesday night released an open letter to COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins calling on him to clarify a comment he made in a statement on Monday.
"It implies Ms. Bellis filed her application incorrectly. This is patently false," Bellis' lawyer, Tudor Clee, writes.
9:20am - There were 142 new community cases reported on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health. There were also 56 new border cases. Here's a look at the ministry's latest breakdown of cases in New Zealand:
9:15am - Newshub Political Editor Jenna Lynch reported on Wednesday night that it's understood MIQ will be removed for Kiwi travellers from Australia at the end of February and for those coming from elsewhere shortly afterwards.
9:05am - There is speculation the last day of MIQ for those coming from Australia will be on February 27. Currently, Air New Zealand flights from Sydney come with a warning up to February 27 that managed isolation is required. However, on February 28, that warning disappears on their booking website.
9am - Kia ora, good morning, and welcome to Newshub's live updates for Thursday. All eyes will be on the Prime Minister later on Thursday when she is set to announce when New Zealand will move to self-isolation for returnees. It comes after the Government was forced to delay its initial plans due to Omicron.
