26th February 2024 Borders / CustomsUnions representing workers at the New Zealand Customs Service say the country’s border security will be put at risk by the government’s proposed cuts to frontline services.
20th November 2023 Biosecurity / BordersBiosecurity New Zealand has boosted its quarantine and border staff numbers, with 23 new officers and four detector dog handlers to manage the peak international visitor season.
27th July 2023 Borders / GovernmentTourism Industry Aotearoa says the government’s effort to explore a more seamless travel experience between New Zealand and Australia could lead to benefits for business and leisure travel.
26th July 2023 Biosecurity / BordersBiosecurity New Zealand says the number of border seizures it is making has climbed sharply in the aftermath of the pandemic and as events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup attracts visitors.
30th May 2023 Arrivals / BordersThe government has decided to phase in its new digital travel declarations system across the country’s international airports, as opposed to implementing it all at once as originally planned.
30th May 2023 Biosecurity / BordersA forgotten apple in a traveller’s bag could net them a $400 fine – and for close to 8,000 travellers, that is exactly what happened, according to Biosecurity New Zealand.
18th May 2023 Borders / CustomsVisitors to New Zealand who provide false or no arrival information could face new penalties as part of changes to the Customs and Excise (Arrival Information) Amendment Bill.
20th January 2023 Biosecurity / BordersBiosecurity New Zealand says it is working with Auckland Airport to address mishandled and unaccompanied baggage issues affecting travellers this summer and is also collaborating with cruise to ensure ships arrive with clean hulls.
13th December 2022 Biosecurity / BordersBiosecurity New Zealand is urging arriving travellers to do their bit to ensure unwanted pests and diseases do not enter New Zealand over the busy summer period.
9th December 2022 Borders / VisasFrequent business visitors and officials and diplomats travelling to New Zealand from Pacific Island Forum Countries and Kiribati will receive improved visa conditions when travelling to New Zealand.
6th December 2022 Borders / Covid-19The Royal Commission will start considering evidence in February and conclude in mid-2024, with a report to follow.
9th November 2022 Borders / CustomsCustoms Minister Meka Whaitiri says the online data collection will allow visitors to move seamlessly through the arrivals process.
25th October 2022 Borders / CustomsThe government will start piloting a revamped online New Zealand Traveller Declaration in early 2023, with a view to it replacing the paper arrival card by June next year.
1st August 2022 Borders / RecoveryTourism Minister Stuart Nash says there is strong visitor demand for NZ.
21st June 2022 Borders / Covid-19Visitors heading to New Zealand can now skip the hassle of having a pre-departure Covid-19 test.
20th June 2022 AIAL / BordersInternational passengers, excluding transits, reached 281,774, a 108.7% increase from May 2021.
20th June 2022 Borders / Covid-19Border workers will no longer need to be tested for Covid-19 from 11:59pm on Thursday 30 June.
17th June 2022 Borders / Flight CentreFlight Centre wants to see the full opening of the border brought forward from 31 July and questions why there is a delay “considering the state of the economy”.
16th June 2022 Borders / Covid-19The removal of the requirement at midnight Monday arrives in time for the start of the southern ski season.
14th June 2022 Borders / PoliticsNational Party Covid-19 response spokesperson Chris Bishop is calling on the government to drop pre-departure testing requirements for incoming visitors “right now”.
13th June 2022 Borders / Covid-19The US is no longer requiring visitors travelling by air to undertake pre-departure testing for Covid-19, leaving NZ somewhat lagging behind as a country largely open for tourism with the restriction in place.
13th June 2022 Borders / StudentsEducation Minister Chris Hipkins has been travelling overseas to promote New Zealand as an attractive study destination for international students.
2nd June 2022 Borders / RecoveryDaily arrivals to New Zealand exceeded 6,000 on a number of days in May 2022 – the first time that level has been reached since the borders closed in March 2020.
13th May 2022 Borders / EducationEducation Minister Chris Hipkins will travel to the United States and South America from late May to early June as part of a mission to promote New Zealand as a destination for international students.
13th May 2022 Borders / CruiseRotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick says New Zealand’s full border reopening on 31 July is great news for the city’s tourism and hospitality operators.
12th May 2022 Borders / RecoveryThe tourism, hospitality, events, and aviation industries welcome the new border date and moves to make hiring migrant workers easier.
11th May 2022 Borders / CruiseAfter two years of hardship, hundreds of Kiwi ship suppliers and tourism operators can start rebuilding their businesses, says NZCA.
11th May 2022 Borders / CruisePre-departure testing is also expected to be scrapped before the end of July.
10th May 2022 Borders / RecoveryJacinda Ardern will announce tomorrow the border re-opening date for visitors from countries requiring visas, according to a media report.
10th May 2022 Air NZ / BordersBut domestic numbers took a hit as the NZ’s Omicron wave put a lid on demand.
5th May 2022 Borders / ChinaNew Zealand has some advantages once the Chinese government allows its citizens to travel for leisure again.
5th May 2022 Borders / RecoveryThe easing of the border at 11.59pm on Sunday 1 May allowed vaccinated visitors from around 60 visa waiver countries to enter without needing to isolate.
4th May 2022 Borders / BusinessNZBusinessNZ has welcomed the government’s move to enable unvaccinated residence class visa holders to enter New Zealand from 6 May.
3rd May 2022 Borders / RecoveryThe peak season is as strong a drawcard as ever with bookings painting a positive picture.
3rd May 2022 Borders / RecoveryPM Jacinda Ardern says she does not believe pre-departure Covid testing is preventing anyone from visiting NZ.
3rd May 2022 Borders / CampaignsThe new campaign is released globally as NZ welcomes back travellers from around 60 visa waiver countries.
3rd May 2022 Borders / PoliticsACT party leader David Seymour is calling on the government to explain why it has chosen to stagger the border reopening.
2nd May 2022 Borders / RecoveryIt’s not just VFR on the way with more than 6000 working holiday visa applications made and 5000 students allowed.
2nd May 2022 Borders / Covid-19Industry groups are calling on the government to scrap the requirement for travellers to take a pre-departure test before flying to New Zealand.
29th April 2022 AIAL / BordersThe country’s main gateway will re-open to visa waiver countries on Monday, allowing in visitors from 88% of its pre-Covid markets.
22nd April 2022 Borders / GovernmentPrime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have acknowledged the need to resume and strengthen “people-to-people” links between New Zealand and Japan.
21st April 2022 Borders / CruiseThe government is yet to announce a date for cruise visits to start again despite the air border to Australia re-opening last week.
21st April 2022 Borders / RecoveryHowever, it is still far short of the 20,580 recorded for pre-Covid 13 April 2019.
13th April 2022 Australia / BordersThousands of visitors from Australia will arrive today, marking the restart of isolation-free trans-Tasman travel.
12th April 2022 Borders / SkyCityAuckland’s Sky Tower will light up in green and gold on Wednesday 13 April to celebrate the return of Australian travellers to New Zealand.
5th April 2022 Borders / NZCAThe PM says the govt is yet receive advice on reopening NZ’s maritime border.
4th April 2022 Borders / RecoveryLockdowns in China and questions around international tourism demand are prompting businesses in the Mackenzie to set pragmatic goals for the future.
1st April 2022 Borders / TECNZThe association predicts an earlier recovery in visitor arrivals thanks to the latest border re-opening dates.
31st March 2022 Borders / EmploymentThe re-opening of New Zealand’s borders could make it harder for employers to fill critical worker shortages as Kiwis head overseas.
30th March 2022 Borders / RecoveryTourism businesses in Kaikōura have a ‘glimmer of hope’ after a tough two years, soon to be bolstered by international visitors and a new hotel.
