Australia will open borders between New Zealand and NSW, Northern Territory within two weeks, as coronavirus restrictions ease.
Australia has announced a deal for a limited travel bubble that would allow people from New Zealand to travel freely to New South Wales and the Northern Territory in the next fortnight.
The deal will allow New Zealanders and other residents in New Zealand who have not been in an area designated as a COVID-19 hotspot in New Zealand in the preceding 14 days to travel quarantine-free from Friday October 16.
The changes will not allow Australians to travel to New Zealand, with Australians expected to head to New Zealand at a later date once a decision is reached by NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Announcing the news, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said stage 1 of a travel zone with New Zealand would see one-way quarantine-free travel into NSW and the NT.
Mr McCormack said the Government was hopeful travel arrangements would be expanded, saying states and territories that agreed to the Commonwealth’s hotspot definition would be able to participate.