Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday (February 28) announced that from 11.59 pm on Wednesday (March 2), vaccinated travellers coming to New Zealand would no longer need to isolate. That means NZ citizens and other eligible travellers entering the country will be able to step off the plane and immediately connect with family and friends and enjoy all NZ has to offer. She also announced that vaccinated New Zealanders travelling from beyond Australia would be allowed to return from this Friday (March 4) (which was earlier March 13) also without having to self-isolate.
Confirming this, Ardern had said, "We will still require every traveller to undertake a rapid antigen test on the day they arrive and on day five/six. All positive RATs must be registered and followed up with a PCR test.
"I can assure you now that as we open, all vaccinated travellers who test negative on arrival with a RAT will be able to immediately enjoy NZ and all it has to offer and not have to isolate."
The changes, which incidentally came exactly two years after the first Covid-19 case was detected in NZ on February 28, 2020, indicates starting of the end of the often controversial and debated MIQ (Managed isolation and quarantine) system and self-isolation for travellers. It may be noted that MIQ will still be used for unvaxxed travellers. It would be retained, with the option to scale up if need be.
The news has brought a sigh of relief and happiness to the Kiwi- Indian community. Many Kiwi- Indians who are currently planning to travel or those currently offshore and planning to come back to Aotearoa have welcomed the news wholeheartedly.
Indian Weekender spoke to some of the Kiwi Indians to know how they feel about the announcement and the fact that they do not need to self isolate if they plan to travel to NZ.
Gaurav Juneja, an NZ resident visa holder who is currently visiting his family in New Delhi, India and plans to travel back to NZ next month, is delighted by the news. He says, "I am really excited by this news. It lifts off a great deal of stress and hassle, which I was mentally preparing myself to self-isolate on my return. The fact that there is no self-isolation would mean that I can get back to my routine as soon as I land in NZ, including joining my work."
“Nevertheless, I will be careful while travelling and adhere to all government rules to protect the NZ community and myself.”
Fiji Indian, Mukesh Chand, also shares the same sentiment. He says, “ I was planning to visit Fiji end of March but was little stressed about self-isolation on return and not being able to join work (as my work does not allow work from home) before this news came about. But this news is great, and now I have no stress, and I will be able to join my work as soon as I come back."
Amarpreet Kaur, an NZ permanent resident, who will be travelling to India along with his 12-year-old daughter Manleen next week, says that this news was long due. "I think this due should have come a little earlier, but as they say, better late than never. I am glad that once I arrive back in April, I will be able to join my work and enjoy a normal life in NZ, and my daughter will also not miss her school."
