The summer holiday exodus out of Auckland will begin at midnight, Dec 14, when the covid border around the city is lifted for vaccinated travellers.
Those exiting or entering the city – which will have been in isolation mode for four months by then – will need to have either been fully vaccinated or have a negative test result dated within the past three days in their possession.
Speaking at today's covid briefing, prime minister Jacinda Ardern said the double vaccination or testing requirement will remain in place until January 17.
She said police will have "operational discretion" on the enforcement of the rules and will undertake random spot checks – much as they do to enforce other driving laws including drink driving. "The boundary is, of course, two ways, so the changes also mean Aucklanders and Auckland businesses can start receiving New Zealanders from all over the country, allowing families and friends to reconnect and business to receive a much-needed boost ahead of Christmas." In response to local community concerns as to the limited vaccination levels in Northland, Ardern said police will work with local iwi on the northern boundary to ensure locals had "confidence" checks are in place. At the Auckland Airport, Air New Zealand has made a vaccine certificate or test a requirement before New Zealanders can fly, while the inter-island ferries will also require proof of vaccination or a pre-departure test to travel between Wellington and Picton. Those rules will also be effective from Dec 15. Traffic lights Ardern said Cabinet still expects to move Auckland into its new covid 'traffic light system' soon after Nov 29, with the city initially moving into red, the highest level in the traffic light. The rest of the country will follow Auckland's lead, despite the expectation that certain parts of the country won't yet be at the 90% vaccination targets. “This decision carefully balances the need to give Aucklanders the ability to move and comfort to the rest of New Zealand that we’re still taking steps to slow the spread of covid." She said the changes to the Auckland border had been timed to allow the rest of the country "time to move into the traffic light system and the chance to increase vaccination rates". Auckland DHB fully vaccinated The announcement comes as the Auckland DHB becomes the first to breach the 90% full vaccination level, followed by Waitemata DHB at 86% and Counties Manukau DHB, at 83% double vaccination. The city has about 54,000-second vaccinations remaining to hit 90% across its eligible population. The country’s combined vaccination level is at 91% for first doses, and 84% for full vaccinations. Employers and Manufacturers Association chief executive Brett O’Riley said he remains concerned about a firm reopening date for business. He said while its 7,600 business members understand the announcement on moving to the traffic light system will be made at month-end, business needs assurance that they will be back in business from Dec 1. "That’s the pattern we’ve seen so far with these announcements – that the day following is when it comes into play – but business needs clarity so we can plan for this. The worst outcome would be to have to wait an extra few days or even a week to reopen.” "Retail’s open now, but Auckland’s hospitality industry is on its knees and needs to plan for restocking, organising staff and getting prepared to open on December 1. "At the moment it feels like we’re in the last kilometre of a marathon and someone forgot to mark the finish line, so we don’t know where it ends." This story has been updated to reflect current vaccination levels.
