New Zealand Fully Opens Its International Borders At The End Of July, Workers And Tourists Can Return To Kiwi Land

Illustration of activity at Wellington airport, New Zealand. (Wikimedia Commons/Phillip Capper)

JAKARTA - New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday the country would fully reopen its international borders by 31 July 2022 starting at 23:59 local time.

The opening was also marked by the return of the cruise ship to the local port of Kiwi Country on the same day.

The planned opening of the border in late July, advanced two months earlier than the previous government's timeframe, means visitors who need a visa can now come to New Zealand.

In a speech at the Business NZ lunch in Auckland, PM Ardern said opening borders would help alleviate an urgent skills shortage, open up tourism and put immigration arrangements on a safer footing.

"We are building on our proven plan to secure New Zealand's economic future," said PM Ardern.

The final part of the gradual reopening of borders will reopen the country to all visa categories, including tourists, workers, families and students.

"New Zealand is in great demand and is now fully open for business. This will be great news for our families, businesses and migrant communities," said PM Adern quoting the Daily Mail.

"It also provides reassurance and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies, who are planning to return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer," he said.

The announcement comes as a relief to the industry seeking more skilled workers, New Zealand universities and colleges and immigrant families separated from their loved ones for more than two years due to visa requirements.

The immigration changes include simplified processes and visa extensions for the 20,000 migrants already in the country, in a bid to retain skilled workers.

Also includes a 'Green List' of 85 difficult-to-fill roles, which addresses areas where there is a shortage of skills.

It is hoped that registers and pathways to residency will help attract highly skilled health workers, engineers, trade and technology workers to move to New Zealand.