New Zealand will keep its borders closed to most international travellers for a further five months, the government said, outlining a cautious easing of coronavirus border curbs that have been in place for nearly two years.
Along with its geographic isolation, the country enforced some of the tightest pandemic restrictions among OECD nations, limiting the spread of Covid-19 and helping its economy bounce back quickly.
But an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta variant earlier this year has forced a shift in strategy, with the main city of Auckland now only gradually opening up as vaccination rates climb.
Fully vaccinated international travellers will be allowed to enter the country from 30 April, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins