Coronavirus: Majority of New Zealanders don't want travel bubble with Australia yet - Newshub-Reid Research Poll

If you haven't booked your summer holiday yet - how about Sydney?

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says trans-Tasman travel could happen before Christmas, with Australia warming to the idea of a state-by-state bubble.

But exclusive Newshub poll numbers show the majority of New Zealand isn't ready to hit go just yet.

In the latest Newshub-Reid Research Poll, 50.7 percent of respondents said they didn't want a bubble with Australia until it was completely free of COVID-19 and there was no community transmission in the country. A further 41.6 percent said they would support forming bubbles but only with states that have no community transmission, and 4.9 percent want an all-of-Australia bubble right now.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said a bubble could be a nearer reality.

"I think with New Zealand I think we're very close, very very close."

Ardern said implementing a travel bubble on a state-by-state basis with those that are COVID-19-free could happen.

"State-by-state versus the whole country does open a bit of possibility for us," she said on Monday.

"I haven't put a date on it yet because I don't want to raise expectations only to disappoint." 

Some New Zealanders Newshub spoke to say they're ready for the travel bubble.

"I'd certainly welcome it," one said.

"Yeah, [I'd like to go to] Queensland," another said.

But others aren't ready for the bubble just yet.

"We've done our part here but they're not ready, are they," one said.

"I guess there's always that risk that they can be transmitting between the states," another said.

National Party leader Judith Collins also said New Zealanders may not be ready for a bubble yet.

"I think a lot of New Zealanders may not be [ready] and I think that people need to know that they're safe," she said.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said the bubble could happen quickly.

"It could be happening much more quickly than people think, but we can't just stand around here in everlasting caution whilst businesses go to the wire," he said.

But don't pack your suitcase just yet - the travel bubble would only be formalised and formed after next month's election and once a new Government is sworn in.