Today I am announcing the next stage
in our border reopening work.
Our border has already reopened to New Zealanders from around the world
and on Monday critical and skilled workers also became eligible
to enter without isolation.
To sure up our workforce in industries such as agriculture,
technology and construction
as our economy rebounds.
And we have now received guidance that is safe to significantly
bring forward the next stage
of border reopening work
to welcome back our tourists.
In doing so we are sending a very clear message
that we are accelerating our economic recovery.
Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop covid-19
over two years ago
and it's reopening will spur our economic recovery
throughout the remainder of the year.
You will recall in February this year, when we announced our border reopening plans
we also said the dates could change
as we experienced our own omicron wave
and looked to come out the other side.
That is now the situation we find ourselves in.
That means we can plan with greater certainty
with the comfort of knowing the impact of these changes are safe and manageable.
In short, we are ready to welcome the world back.
Today I can confirm that from 11:59pm
Tuesday 12 April
vaccinated Australians can travel to New Zealand
and from 11:59pm Sunday 1st of May
vaccinated travellers from visa waiver countries
and those with valid visitor visas
can travel to New Zealand.
Our strong health response
including having the lowest death rate in OECD
over the past two years
is now also an asset.
We are a safe place to visit
and New Zealand will be ready with open arms.
In particular, I look forward to welcoming back our trans-tasman travellers
who have historically made up 40% of our international arrivals
around 1.5 million Australians.
They will be able to arrive in time for the Australian school holidays
and provide a particular boost for our coming winter ski season.
Prior to covid-19
tourism was a huge export earner for New Zealand
contributing 5.5% to GDP
bringing in around 41 billion all together.
But the spend reaches much further than that.
A further 11 billion is generated indirectly
and tourist demand benefits a range of industries.
Accomodation, transport, retail,
not to mention adventure, entertainment, art and culture.
It was also responsible too for 8% of our national work force.
I do want to acknowledge that this decision comes at a time
when we are reaching a level of covid we haven't seen before
but had planned for
and I do want to offer some reassurance.
Firstly we know that travel numbers will be below 2019
it will take time to rebuild.
And while we have removed all travel isolation
so that tourists will be able to experience the sights and sounds immediately
they will be required to have a pre-departure test.
That pre-departure test can be a supervised LAMP, rapid antigen
or a PCR test.
Then when they arrive they have a further two rapid antigen tests
on day 0/1 and day 5/6
which is the case at the border presently.
And so we strike the balance.
An earlier reopening for tourism
and the air travel that brings
also increases capacity for our exports.
Helping to lower freight rates
and the flow on costs of goods that stems from that.
This will be a further boost for our biggest export earner
the primary sector.
Which is already receiving record prices for goods
and contributing significantly to our economic recovery.
Our work to keep shipping lines and supply chains open
and new free trade agreements such as the UK and EU
further support economic recovery.
But ultimately the most poignant moments in reopening to the world so far
have surely been those when family and friends have been reunited.
It's been particularly timely to see that
and feel grateful for it
in light of the events we are all baring witness to around the world.
But a critical element is also to reunite visitorsw
with our regional economies
to welcome back our tourists
and extend our manaakitanga once more.
I am proud that New Zealand is a country able
in this moment in time
to provide a safe place for our tourists to return to.
During my international engagements this year
I will be helping to lead the charge
to accelerate the growth of our top export markets,
our primary sector and our tourism sector.
Encouraging people to buy New Zealand made
and also so come and see us for themselves.