New Zealand Border

[casofilia]

The latest from the New Zealand government (NZ Herald 9 Apr).  They have cancelled all flights from India for two weeks and threatening others too.

 

 

Mike

[casofilia]

This was posted on another thread so I thought I would copy here FYI even though it is not NZ but would tie us together I think.

 

 

Borders in Oz are closed. Prime Minister said unlikely to open in 2021 (except for bubble areas)

 

There issues with the vaccine. 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9449677/Australians-hopes-overseas-holiday-year-dashed-AstraZeneca-Covid-vaccine.html

 

Hardly anyone has had COVID19 here and there is no herd immunity.

 

So interesting times ahead. I would suspect Morrision will keep the borders closed until the Australian population is vaccinated before opening them up. So that might creep into 2022.

[Rob_H]

10 hours ago, casofilia said:

So interesting times ahead. I would suspect Morrision will keep the borders closed until the Australian population is vaccinated before opening them up. So that might creep into 2022.

 

Things were beginning to look good for a border opening in perhaps October but now with a complete new plan on vaccines in Australia, that's changed.

 

Astra Zeneca vaccines are to be limited to those over 50, with Pfizer for others, but sufficient Pfizer orders are not likely to arrive until the 4th quarter of the year. The (already slow) target to vaccinate most with a first dose by October has been abandoned.

 

Really I don't see the border opening (other than to NZ, maybe Singapore or another bubble country) until early next year now.

 

Even local cruises (Australia to/from NZ) don't seem likely this Christmas.  There's no political will in either country to help foreign cruise ships when the Ruby Princess debacle is still so fresh.

[Markanddonna]

I read this morning that Australia just purchased 20 million Pfizer vaccines.

[roger001]

I'm out of the vaccine information loop, but it seems that supply should be much more available...somehow.  Here in Tennessee, some counties are finding they now have an over supply since so many folks are not going to get one.  In Wal Mart yesterday, they had a sign posted on the front door that vaccine shots were now available, just drop by for your appointment.  Our local Kroger is giving them all day long.  It seems, based on this, that the US won't be a vaccine hog much longer.  

[Rob_H]

2 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

I read this morning that Australia just purchased 20 million Pfizer vaccines.

Just placed an order, for delivery in the fourth quarter of the year, although they'll try to speed it up.

[casofilia]

For those following this; I emailed the following to our Covid Minister:-

 

1) Is the government in talks with any of the major cruise lines regarding entry of cruise ships into New Zealand?

2) If not, why not?

3) What restrictions will the New Zealand Government put in place for New Zealanders returning to New Zealand by cruise ship?

4) What restrictions will apply to "bubble country" citizens?

5) What restrictions to all other citizens?

6) When does the government anticipate allowing cruise ships to visit New Zealand?

There are some very specific questions regarding actual cruise ship deployments that we will personally be affected by.

1) The Norwegian Spirit is due to leave Athens on the 7th November 2021 and to travel via Dubai and Singapore to arrive in Auckland on the 4th January 2022.   When will a decision be made to allow or to deny the Norwegian Spirit entry to visit ports in New Zealand and to discharge passengers in Auckland?

2) The Emerald Princess is due to depart Sydney on the 23th February to complete a number of Tasman crossings to and from Auckland.  When will a decision be made to allow or to deny the Emerald Princess entry to visit ports in New Zealand and to discharge and board passengers in Auckland?

3) What restrictions will be placed on passengers on those ships before, during and after travelling to and/or from New Zealand.

 

Here is the answer:-

 

The Minister has noted your concerns and as these matters are best answered by the Ministry of Health, we have asked them to respond to you directly about the issues you have raised. Please note that due to the significant amount of correspondence the Ministry of Health is currently receiving, a response may take some weeks.

 

I have bolded and increased the size of part on purpose.

 

Don't expect anything useful for a while.

[HaveWeMetYet]

I would not make any plans for travel to South Pacific through 2022.

Actually, I will not make any until I see borders open and cruise ships operating.

What is going to happen when some new virus pops up in future years? Will the borders be instantly shut stranding NZ and OZ citizens from getting back in? Foreign citizens shut out and travel plans cancelled?

Not complaining about there policies, just recognizing the risks for travel.

[casofilia]

@HaveWeMetYet

 

Will the borders be instantly shut stranding NZ and OZ citizens from getting back in? 

 

By NZ law NZ cannot deny re-entry to NZ citizens.   They can force them into Managed Isolation which they have to pay for.   They can close the borders to planes from certain infected parts of the world.   

If NZ citizens can get to the border they can cross it.

[onlyslightlymad]

1 hour ago, casofilia said:

@HaveWeMetYet

 

Will the borders be instantly shut stranding NZ and OZ citizens from getting back in? 

 

By NZ law NZ cannot deny re-entry to NZ citizens.   They can force them into Managed Isolation which they have to pay for.   They can close the borders to planes from certain infected parts of the world.   

If NZ citizens can get to the border they can cross it.

That's not entirely true.  If returning citizens can be deemed to pose a risk to those citizens already here, then their right to return, can be temporarily suspended or delayed.

 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-if-border-rules-tighten-what-rights-do-returning-new-zealanders-have/3FFAVDEJNDDXMC3DDY5NUPD444/

[mimbecky]

15 hours ago, casofilia said:

Don't expect anything useful for a while.

I'm surprised you received an answer at all! 😮

[casofilia]

Two pieces of information from the last 24 hours.

 

1)  Cruise ships are specifically excluded from the Australia/New Zealand bubble.

2)  Australia's Prime Minister has scrapped their Vaccination Schedule.

 

Neither is good news for getting cruise ships back to this part of the world.

 

Mike

 

 

[caribill]

Last December 20 there was this news from New Zealand.    What happened?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/17/ardern-unveils-new-zealand-covid-vaccine-deals-as-economy-rebounds

 

https://www.businessinsider.com/new-zealand-surplus-covid-19-vaccines-to-neighboring-countries-2020-12

 

Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has bought so many COVID-19 vaccines that it will give free doses to neighboring countries

 

On Thursday, Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand had secured two additional COVID-19 vaccines. This means that the country now expects to have so many doses of the vaccine that it will be able to offer it to neighboring nations for free.

[casofilia]

@caribill

 

That was last year.   Jacinda doesn't seem to carry promises from one year to the next!!!   New year, new promises to make.

 

The latest idiocy is that we are not using the vaccines we have already in the country; to those that NEED and should have a vaccination; but going slowly so that the vaccinators are not out of work waiting for the next quantities of vaccine to be delivered.   We have front line staff who have not been vaccinated.

 

Also there are a group of specialist vaccinators; I haven't heard why those who vaccinate us against measles; flu; etc, don't seem to be allowed to do the job.

[casofilia]

Here is the major portion of a response to an email I sent to the NZ Government.

 

 

Mike

[caribill]

And announced in Australia:

 

In line with the periodic review of its temporary pause in operations, P&O Cruises Australia today announced a six-week extension to the pause to 17 September, 2021. The extension to P&O's voluntary pause applies to cruises scheduled to depart from 31 July to on or before the new date of 17 September 2021, and is consistent with the line's practical approach to the operating environment.

[HaveWeMetYet]

Saw this today.

 

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/finance-minister-simon-birmingham-says-no-overseas-travel-until-later-in-2022/news-story/8098512c990408a8643fe8f404f05a1c

 

I doubt New Zealand will open any sooner.

Looks like leisure travel from NZ/AUS will not open until 2023 other than between the two.

Leisure travel/cruising for international visitors to NZ/AUS looking more like mid 2023 or later.

[casofilia]

@HaveWeMetYet

 

B....y H..l or as the French say M...e!!!

 

I hope & pray he (and you) is wrong!!!

 

Mike

[HaveWeMetYet]

20 minutes ago, casofilia said:

@HaveWeMetYet

 

B....y H..l or as the French say M...e!!!

 

I hope & pray he (and you) is wrong!!!

 

Mike

I hop I am wrong also.

I just can't plan anything until I see open borders and ships sailing and no quarantine requirements.

[mimbecky]

On 5/6/2021 at 3:37 PM, HaveWeMetYet said:

Saw this today.

 

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/health-safety/finance-minister-simon-birmingham-says-no-overseas-travel-until-later-in-2022/news-story/8098512c990408a8643fe8f404f05a1c

 

I doubt New Zealand will open any sooner.

Looks like leisure travel from NZ/AUS will not open until 2023 other than between the two.

Leisure travel/cruising for international visitors to NZ/AUS looking more like mid 2023 or later.

One of my friends forwarded the same article to me.  Sad.  

I had hoped maybe for a lift and shift to 2023 but a similar cruise to what we booked isn't in one of their itineraries.

 

[Nancy R]

On 5/8/2021 at 12:32 AM, mimbecky said:

One of my friends forwarded the same article to me.  Sad.  

I had hoped maybe for a lift and shift to 2023 but a similar cruise to what we booked isn't in one of their itineraries.

 

Sad as they are, thank you for the updates!  

[casofilia]

From the New Zealand Herald of 22 May

 

"In its Budget forecasts Treasury worked on the assumption of a partial reopening of the borders in the second half of the year and a "significant reopening" from January next year."

 

Later  "Ardern said were still a lot of factors that could have a lot of impact on it".

 

I am very concerned for any cruising to or from New Zealand this southern summer.

 

Mike

[mrlevin]

9 hours ago, casofilia said:

From the New Zealand Herald of 22 May

 

"In its Budget forecasts Treasury worked on the assumption of a partial reopening of the borders in the second half of the year and a "significant reopening" from January next year."

 

Later  "Ardern said were still a lot of factors that could have a lot of impact on it".

 

I am very concerned for any cruising to or from New Zealand this southern summer.

 

Mike

Mike, "second half of the year" do you mean 2021 or 2022?  Likewise, "from January next year" does that mean 2022 or 2023?

 

thanks,

 

Marc

[casofilia]

@mrlevin

 

Hello Marc

 

As it refers to this year's budget from last week, the first is 2021 and the second 2022.   That is why I finished with this summer.

 

All the best

Mike

[mimbecky]

Seems NZ may be more willing to open than Australia.  Last I saw Australia didn't expect to open to international travel until July 2022.  Wonder if NZ actually opens, will Australia feel any  pressure to do the same?

 

M

Edited May 24, 2021 by mimbecky