Lyn Rickman and her family were hoping to travel across the ditch from Australia to visit her daughter Ellie, who lives in New Zealand and is due to graduate in Auckland at the beginning of May.
“Now chances are we won’t get there, because the borders will open in a staggered way from 30 April and we’d have to quarantine,” says Rickman.
“We can’t plan anything … we’re just hoping New Zealand changes the rules. I’ll be triple-vaxxed, what more can we do? It’s hard.”
Rickman is one of many Australians frustrated by New Zealand’s gradual border reopening timeline, which keeps Australians out until at least 30 April.
Under the plan, fully vaccinated New Zealanders currently in Australia will be able to return home without quarantine from 17 January.
But fully vaccinated non-citizens won’t be able to enter the country until 30 April next year, and they will still need to isolate for a week.
The Tourism Export Council of New Zealand chief executive, Lynda Keene, is disappointed with the government’s decisions, in particular the need to have travellers…
