Ardern warns against overseas travel as EU borders open to New Zealanders

By MiNDFOOD

Ardern warns against overseas travel as EU borders open to New Zealanders
New Zealand has been put in a ‘safe’ travel list by the European Union, meaning Kiwis will be allowed to travel to the bloc without having to go into isolation.

New Zealand joins 13 other nations including Australia, Japan and Canada, whose citizens will be allowed to travel to Europe from July.

However, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is urging Kiwis not to travel there, with a simple message for those considering it: “Don’t.”

“Enjoy your own backyard. There are still risks with travel. This is a pandemic that is growing at an extraordinary rate,” she said.

She also flagged that anyone who chooses to travel to Europe should have to pay for their time in managed isolation upon return to New Zealand.

“I don’t think it’s fair that for those decisions New Zealanders would pick up the cost,” she said.

Ardern said there was a question over whether it would be possible to differentiate between someone choosing to leave New Zealand for a holiday versus someone who needs to return.

Any New Zealanders who travel to Europe will have to go into managed isolation for two weeks upon return to New Zealand.

“Essentially, it changes nothing from New Zealand’s perspective,” Ardern told media on Tuesday.

“What it does mean is that New Zealanders will have the ability to enter [Europe] without isolation requirements. But in New Zealand, our restrictions remain.”

She added, “I certainly haven’t heard of New Zealanders considering holidays knowing they would have to have a two-week period in quarantine on return.”

“What we are doing is getting advice for Kiwis who might be making a deliberate decision to leave without good reason or rationale picking up the cost of that on their return.”

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