Given the he uncertainty of vaccine rollout in many countries around the world, New Zealand is likely to keep international borders shut to global tourism for most of this year. It will only open for specific travel bubbles with Australia and some Pacific island but will stay shut for most other countries.

“We can expect our borders to be impacted for much of this year. We will continue to pursue travel bubbles but the rest of the world simply poses too great a risk to our health and our economy to take a risk at this stage,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Mass vaccine is not expected to begin until the middle of the year, Ardern said.

New Zealand has been one of the more successful nations in containing the virus, but tourism has paid a hefty price due to the closed borders.

“For travel to restart we need one of two things,” said Arden, “we either need the confidence that being vaccinated means you don’t pass Covid-19 on to others or we need enough of our population to be vaccinated and protected that people can safely re-enter New Zealand. Both possibilities will take some time.”