New Zealand Travel Bubble Announcement

[justinbrett]

NZ media reporting that the government will meet on Monday to consider if any extra precautions need to be taken when reopening the bubble, such as mandatory pre-departure testing for anyone coming to NZ from Australia.

Now, I don't really mind getting a test, but if the NZ government will only accept tests from private pathology clinics which charge ~$150-200 per test, that will make regular trips to NZ seriously unattractive - especially for families.

I doubt the NZ government would be able to dictate where the tests could be taken - it's up to the Australian or state governments (ie, not wanting to burden the public system with healthy travellers). But I think with the small numbers and benefits of trans tasman travel to the economy, they'd just use the existing systems.

 

[Must...Fly!]

NZ media reporting that the government will meet on Monday to consider if any extra precautions need to be taken when reopening the bubble, such as mandatory pre-departure testing for anyone coming to NZ from Australia.

Now, I don't really mind getting a test, but if the NZ government will only accept tests from private pathology clinics which charge ~$150-200 per test, that will make regular trips to NZ seriously unattractive - especially for families.

Perhaps some creative thinking is required. I.E. Pay for your test from private pathology, and if you spend at least 3 nights in the country (likely spending money on hotels, food, entertainment etc) then apply to NZ government to have cost of test reimbursed to incentivise travel.

You could easily argue that a user-pays COVID test from private pathology with associated certificate be mandatory for travel in both directions across the ditch anyway.

 

[henrus]

I doubt the NZ government would be able to dictate where the tests could be taken - it's up to the Australian or state governments

They did during the VIC green return flights. Can anyone remember what the requirements were then?

 

[justinbrett]

They did during the VIC green return flights. Can anyone remember what the requirements were then?

Do we know it was them who determined that, or was it the Victorian government who didn't want to waste their resources on travellers? I very much doubt the NZ government would make a list without consultation with the host government.

 

[JessicaTam]

They did during the VIC green return flights. Can anyone remember what the requirements were then?

I am from regional Vic and flew out of SYD at the time. A private PCR test was required. This was very much NZ's decision to make, and would have had no input from the AU or state govt's. A private test generates a detailed result, which the mass vaccination clinics do not.

NZ did not specify who to go to, but they did mandate the details required. A text message from the mass vaccination clinics did not meet that.

International travel

Information for air and sea travellers about entering and leaving New Zealand.

covid19.govt.nz

I went to ClinLabs in Traralgon (Vic). It cost $150 and I got the result 21 hours later. Any of the major pathology labs do them, but only from certain testing locations.

 

[justinbrett]

I am from regional Vic and flew out of SYD at the time. A private PCR test was required. This was very much NZ's decision to make, and would have had no input from the AU or state govt's. A private test generates a detailed result, which the mass vaccination clinics do not.

NZ did not specify who to go to, but they did mandate the details required. A text message from the mass vaccination clinics did not meet that.

International travel

Information for air and sea travellers about entering and leaving New Zealand.

covid19.govt.nz

I went to ClinLabs in Traralgon (Vic). It cost $150 and I got the result 21 hours later. Any of the major pathology labs do them, but only from certain testing locations.

Yes, it makes sense they dictate what test you get - not where you get it or who you get it from.

 

[Berlin]

I went to ClinLabs in Traralgon (Vic). It cost $150 and I got the result 21 hours later. Any of the major pathology labs do them, but only from certain testing locations.

Wow- that’s a lot of money to ease some Kiwis’ paranoia. I might even pay for it but for many people, this would be the final nail in the coffin with regards to the bubble. Won’t help with all those empty seats I’m afraid…

 

[JessicaTam]

Wow- that’s a lot of money to ease some Kiwis’ paranoia. I might even pay for it but for many people, this would be the final nail in the coffin with regards to the bubble. Won’t help with all those empty seats I’m afraid…

The requirement was only during the Melbourne outbreak period. And I would hardly call it paranoia. More about ensuring if there is Covid in the community it is not brought to NZ.

 

[Berlin]

The requirement was only during the Melbourne outbreak period.

Let’s see how this will end up now. $150 per head would be prohibitively expensive for many people.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Let’s see how this will end up now. $150 per head would be prohibitively expensive for many people.

It’s pretty normal for travel in UK/Europe to have to pay for a private covid test, often multiple when traveling.
Fairly sure I’ve heard of £150 being paid per test.
I would imagine as we start to open up and allow entry and exit it will certainly involve some type of paid covid tests.

 

[Berlin]

It’s pretty normal for travel in UK/Europe to have to pay for a private covid test, often multiple when traveling.
Fairly sure I’ve heard of £150 being paid per test.
I would imagine as we start to open up and allow entry and exit it will certainly involve some type of paid covid tests.

As I said, I’ll happily pay for it. But I bet it will make many folks out there even less likely to travel trans-Tasman.

 

[henrus]

I'm currently onboard a Qantas NZ>AU flight..

The crew made a few annoucements like "we can't wait to take you home". An interesting vibe onboard.

 

[Berlin]

I'm currently onboard a Qantas NZ>AU flight..

The crew made a few annoucements like "we can't wait to take you home". An interesting vibe onboard.

That would totally FREAK me out to be honest!

 

[DC3]

I'm currently onboard a Qantas NZ>AU flight..

The crew made a few annoucements like "we can't wait to take you home"…

Kiwi accents?

 

[PineappleSkip]

I went to ClinLabs in Traralgon (Vic). It cost $150 and I got the result 21 hours later. Any of the major pathology labs do them, but only from certain testing locations.

Plug for the latest @madrooster on air podcast, where he goes into testing in some detail and mentions some rapid testing locations

Podcast Episode #63: Travelling from Australia During COVID-19 (Part Two)

Listen now! This episode was released on 26 June, 2021.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Just to add a little, I got my test in outer suburban Brisbane through Healius and turn around time from test to results email of a 10:30 appointment was 8 hours

cheers skip

 

[kiwitripper64]

Testing people before flights is problematic.
There was anecdotal evidence that several people came into NZ with a negative lab report while being symptomatic for covid and then testing positive here. Three possible explanations were that they were tested in an accredited lab and had a false negative result ( unlikely ) they were negative but caught covid in between testing and arrival or they had a counterfeit result.
This resulted in NZ severely tightening international flights a while back.
At the same time I had a friend fly to Germany for a family emergency. She had to have testing that satisfied the Singapore govt and German govt. Fly into their country, abide by their rules. This was a bit difficult as requirements are slightly different and the timing of tests are problematic when doing long haul flights.
When she returned she described how Germany is coming out of lock down and that she was required to have 6 rapid antigen tests in the 3 weeks she was there.
The Australian and NZ govt could look at using rapid antigen testing at the time of flying. The benefit is cost, speed and real time data. The downside is the number of false results that could give a sense of false security. NZ govt has resolutely declined any use of this tech to date. Would it help the trans Tasman bubble?
And finally, the vaccines do not stop people catching covid. The evidence and reason for vaccination is to dramatically reduce the chance of becoming moderately to severely ill if you do get infected. Limited evidence also suggests that diminished people with covid are less infectious.
Finally there has been no induction from NZ govt about what level of community immunization will be required before they open borders.
Who would have imagined 18 months ago that we would be in lockdown over a virus with so many contrary views and issues unresolved.

Episode #14 - COVID-19 - Tests

What kind of COVID-19 tests are available? What are antigens and antibodies? What about the accuracy of these tests? WHO’s Dr Hanan Balkhy explains COVID-19 tests in Science in 5

www.who.int

 

[Lynda2475]

Decision on Bubble to be reviewed today, cant see any outcome than closure being extended given there are community cases in 4 sates and territories.

 

[jakeseven7]

NZ reopening to Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia only. EDiT: whoops also ACT

——


New Zealand to resume quarantine-free travel with SA, the ACT, Tasmania and Victoria from July 5

States going 'hard and fast' on restrictions in bid to keep Delta variant under control

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk again calls for a reduction in international arrivals as the state announces a three-day lockdown, while authorities in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory closely monitor local outbreaks.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Must...Fly!]

NZ reopening to Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia only.

——


New Zealand to resume quarantine-free travel with SA, the ACT, Tasmania and Victoria from July 5

States going 'hard and fast' on restrictions in bid to keep Delta variant under control

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk again calls for a reduction in international arrivals as the state announces a three-day lockdown, while authorities in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Northern Territory closely monitor local outbreaks.

www.abc.net.au

Was thinking you beauty, maybe I'll go to NZ on Friday!

Then saw your edit...hahaha. Oh well, more tourism money lost out.

 

[Mattg]

I spoke to a lot of New Zealanders while I was over there who said they were not willing to risk travelling to Australia at the moment. And that was before all of this happened. This will make matters even worse for Australia's tourism industry as most Kiwis just won't come.