---
title: "New Zealand Finally Welcomes Back Its Australian Neighbours"
description: "New Zealand, one of the final places in the world to drop a Covid-zero policy, has opened its borders to vaccinated Australian visitors after being mostly closed for more than two years."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Business Maverick"
author: "Bloomberg"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/bloomberg/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-04-13-new-zealand-finally-welcomes-back-its-australian-neighbours/"
published: "2022-04-13T05:58:10"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 176
---

# New Zealand Finally Welcomes Back Its Australian Neighbours

> New Zealand, one of the final places in the world to drop a Covid-zero policy, has opened its borders to vaccinated Australian visitors after being mostly closed for more than two years.

By Bloomberg · Published 13 April 2022, 07:58 SAST

## Content

It’s a welcome boost for the decimated tourism industry, which accounted for 5.5% of the economy prior to the pandemic, according to Tourism Industry Aotearoa. Australians comprised about 40% of visitors, and about 50% during ski season, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said on Australian television Wednesday.

“It’s more than just economic for us,” Ardern told the Sunrise show. “It’s a big part of who we are, is welcoming people to our shores,” she said, describing Australians as New Zealand’s “extended family.”

> New Zealand is getting ready to say "kia ora" to vaccinated Aussies without the need for quarantine. NZ Prime Minister [@jacindaardern](https://twitter.com/jacindaardern?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) has told [@kochie\_online](https://twitter.com/kochie_online?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) she's excited to welcome Australians back, particularly in time for the ski season. [pic.twitter.com/APDaFwIJaU](https://t.co/APDaFwIJaU)
>
> — Sunrise (@sunriseon7) [April 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/sunriseon7/status/1513993837261123589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

More than 4,000 customers will board Air New Zealand flights today, as border restrictions between the neighboring countries lift, it said in a statement. The airline is adding 20,000 more seats on 96 extra flights through to June to meet demand for flights in the the upcoming ski season, it said.