Negative COVID-19 test now a requirement to enter New Zealand

Australians wanting to travel to New Zealand are now required to present a negative COVID-19 test before departure as the country ramps up its response to pandemic developments on this side of the Tasman Sea. 

Travellers will now need to have had both a COVID-19 sample taken and a result returned no more than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the first international flight.

It comes as quarantine-free travel to New Zealand is currently paused from every Australian state and territory in response to the ongoing outbreaks across the country.

Travel from New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia is paused until at least 11.59pm NZT on Tuesday 6 July.

Meanwhile, quarantine-free travel from Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and South Australia to NZ is expected to resume at 11.59pm NZT on Sunday 4 July.

Once the bubble reopens to certain states those travellers must also not have been in NSW after 11.59pm on 22 June or in QLD, the NT or WA after 10.30pm on 26 June in order to enter NZ.

Updated at 9.42am AEST on 1 July 2021.

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