Quarantine-free travel to NZ for seasonal workers from Tonga [1]
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 - 17:41
Seasonal workers from Tonga, Samoa, and Vanuatu will be able to travel to New Zealand quarantine-free starting in October announced New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor, yesterday September 14.
Officials in both New Zealand and partner Pacific countries are working through the final measures that need to be in place, with exact flight dates in October to be confirmed.
The arrangement will help New Zealand’s horticulture industry for the upcoming picking season.
“We need to take a cautious approach to opening up quarantine-free travel with the Pacific. While Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu haven’t had any community cases of COVID-19 we know first-hand how quickly Delta can spread if it gets in,” Chris Hipkins said.
“We are starting solely with RSE workers for several reasons. RSE workers come to New Zealand in a cohort and stay in employer-arranged accommodation. This helps mitigate any additional risk from COVID-19 by ensuring they go into self-isolation in a pre-organised place immediately upon arrival.”
To minimise risk, seasonal workers will need to be vaccinated with at least one dose pre-departure, complete a period of self-isolation on arrival and return negative COVID-19 tests at Day 0 and Day 5.
Up to 14,400 RSE workers normally come through New Zealand each year, with approximately 10,500 being in the country at peak harvesting times pre-COVID.
Mr O’Connor said substantial planning has been underway both in New Zealand’s horticulture and viticulture sectors and in partner countries for the arrival of these workers, with some incoming flights deferred in August and September because of New Zealand’s Alert Level 4 settings.
“We will be closely monitoring this first stage of one-way quarantine-free travel. Our intention remains to broaden eligibility for quarantine-free entry to New Zealand from these countries and Tokelau when we can be sure it is safe to do so. In the meantime, other people entering New Zealand from these countries will need to meet existing MIQ requirements.”
“We thank Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu for their close cooperation with us on this significant step in reconnecting our countries.”
“I’d also like to thank the horticulture and viticulture leaders for working so constructively with us in reaching this announcement.”