Pre-departure test requirements will be dropped from late Monday night, the COVID-19 Response Minister has announced.
Travellers coming into New Zealand will not need a COVID-19 pre-departure test from 11:59pm on Monday, June 20.
Dr Ayesha Verrall, who was announced as the new COVID-19 Response Minister on Monday, said the challenges of getting a pre-departure test overseas are now no longer outweighed by the public health benefits.
She described the cost and availability of getting a test as "increasingly becoming a barrier for people intending to travel here". This is becoming particularly difficult as countries wind back their own testing availability.
"We’ve taken a careful and staged approach to reopening our borders to ensure we aren’t overwhelmed with an influx of COVID-19 cases," Dr Verrall said in a statement on Thursday. "Our strategy has worked and as a result it’s safe to lift pre-departure test requirements much sooner than planned."
"We had intended to remove the requirement for travellers to have a pre-departure test by 31 July. But with cases continuing to decline despite over 387,000 arrivals since borders reopened there is evidence this measure can now be lifted."
"Around 90 percent of international arrivals undertake their required testing once they are in the country, with only a 2-3 percent positivity rate. So we don’t anticipate a significant increase in border cases once the requirement is lifted."
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash said removing the tests "is another important step in our reconnecting strategy and economic recovery."
"It's positive we're able to safely remove pre-departure tests before the winter tourism season and the upcoming Australian school holidays. I know this news will be welcomed by tourism operators across the country," Nash said.
"The removal of the test means planning a trip to New Zealand is made easier and cheaper. So for those people overseas who have been dreaming of international travel, my message is simple: New Zealand is open, and we're ready to welcome you."
While pre-departure tests are being dropped, travellers into New Zealand will still need to conduct Day 0/1 and Day 5/6 tests. If either are positive, they must then get a PCR test. This allows officials to still understand what strains of COVID-19 are coming into the country.
The minister also announced people transiting through New Zealand will no longer be required to be vaccinated or complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.
"Travellers with COVID-19 like symptoms (e.g. hayfever) will also be able to choose between showing a negative COVID test, or a certificate from a health professional - stating that they are unlikely to have COVID-19 - before travelling," said Dr Verrall.
"Another change will see the maximum penalty for breaching the Air Border Order’s vaccination requirement reduced from $4000, to $1000.
"These changes represent important progress in our ongoing management of COVID-19 and our reconnecting strategy."
Back in May, then-COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said pre-departure testing "is a lot less important" than it was earlier in the year.
National's COVID-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop said getting rid of the pre-departure tests was the "right thing" done "belatedly".
"The only question is why it has taken so long for the Government to act. Chris Hipkins admitted weeks ago that the value of pre-departure testing was low, including saying that its ‘days were numbered'.
"Pre-departure tests made sense when we pursued elimination and were trying to catch every case. But with thousands of cases in the community daily, they are well past their use-by date.
"I have been inundated with correspondence in recent months from Kiwis who have struggled with the requirements of pre-departure testing before being allowed to board a flight. They were expensive, increasingly difficult to get overseas and made zero sense in today’s COVID-19 landscape."
In a statement on Wednesday, ACT leader David Seymour said dropping pre-departures was "common-sense". He also said he wants to see the new minister review isolation rules.
"Hipkins has been asleep at the COVID wheel. Verrall’s appointment is a great opportunity. She needs to dump unworkable isolation rules along with pre-departure testing," the ACT leader said.
"Then she needs to reset our COVID strategy with a clear statement of what it is. Knowing what the strategy is would make COVID decisions much easier."
Auckland Airport has welcomed the move, saying it will be helpful for travellers coming to New Zealand for the July school holidays.
