New Zealand

Pacific airlines holding out for NZ and Australia to reopen

George Faktaufon said Pacific airlines are not going to be able to count on national government support for handouts to keep them afloat, and the clock is already ticking for some airlines.

"It's very hard to plan for something that you are not quite sure when it's going to happen, because we have always planned for something that is certain, but the plan is depending on when Australia and New Zealand are opening up," he said.

     

New Zealand eases lockdown

The country says it has stopped community transmission of Covid-19, effectively eliminating the virus.

Lowering its alert level from four to three means that some non-essential business, healthcare and schools were able to resume this morning.

Around 400,000 people headed back to work, some schools and childcare facilities are open, and people are allowed to get takeout food again.

New Zealand, partly thanks to its isolation and easily-closed borders, managed to contain the virus early on.

Traveller bound for New Zealand placed under quarantine in Tonga

‘’We are just being extra careful and activated our quarantine process yesterday so that this particular person will be at the quarantine facility at Taliai Camp for the next 14 days,’’ said CEO for Health Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola.

It is understood that the departing passenger had boarded the Air New Zealand flight at around 2:20pm Thursday when Immigration New Zealand sent a message to the Air New Zealand manager in Tonga to offload one passenger as they deemed him ineligible to arrive under New Zealand’s tightened travel restrictions or face infringement or prosecution.

Tongan seasonal workers in Australia continue working

Tonga’s liaison officer in Australia, Sione Vaka, told Kaniva News all Seasonal Worker Programme employees’ visas had been extended for up to 12 months.

Vaka said Tongan workers had not been charged for the extension.

He said employers were making sure employees would not be infected with the virus.

He said the Australian government had directed all employers to make sure their workers had work to do during the lockdown to help their families in Tonga.

All states were on lockdown, but the workers were exempted because they were doing essential services.

NZ Foreign Minister and Tonga PM discuss cooperation on COVID-19

They discussed the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world, and the particular challenge it poses to the Pacific Islands region.

Minister Peters outlined New Zealand’s domestic approach to tackling COVID-19, as well as its package of support to Pacific Island countries to assist with pandemic preparedness.

Both discussed their countries’ respective lockdowns, and committed to ongoing cooperation on COVID-19 and more broadly on social and economic development.

 

     

Repatriation flight from Tonga confirmed

An Air New Zealand flight from Tonga's capital Nuku'alofa to Auckland has been scheduled for next Wednesday, 15 April.

This came as a number of New Zealand citizens and residents had reported to be stuck in Tonga due to border closures and national lockdowns.

The flight is available for those wishing to return to New Zealand, but was subject to the Government of Tonga's approval.

New Zealand citizens and residents are urged to get in touch with the airline directly, or their travel agent, to indicate their interest in boarding the flight.

Quarantine or 'managed isolation' compulsory for all arrivals into NZ, PM says

Jacinda Ardern said the new arrivals will need to go into either quarantine or "managed isolation" at an approved facility for a minimum of 14 days.

"Our borders are our biggest risk," she said.

She said even one person slipping through the cracks and bringing the virus in could see an explosion of cases.

Ardern said everyone arriving will go into a managed facility that is provided by the government."

She said the tighter controls could not have been done in the beginning but "we can and are now".

Managed transit allows stranded New Zealand travellers to get home

“There are millions of people around the world stranded by COVID-19 and we are continuing to do our part to help them get home,” Mr Peters said. “Accordingly, Cabinet agreed yesterday that New Zealand would seek reciprocal transit arrangements with a number of countries to enable our citizens to transit each other’s airports.

“One barrier to New Zealanders getting home at present is the transit restrictions imposed by a number of countries. We continue to seek assistance from these countries to enable New Zealanders to transit through their airports in order to come home.

New Zealand provides significant COVID-19 support to Tonga

NZ$10 million is also available for requests from the Pacific Island countries preparing their health systems to deal with COVID-19. We have already received and are urgently responding to a number of these requests.

As part of New Zealand’s COVID-19 support, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided NZ$4 million to the Government of Tonga in general budget support. This contribution is intended to respond to the wide-ranging health, economic, and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Zealand Government helps Pacific communities fight COVID

Cabinet has agreed that $17 million will be allocated to support a COVID-19 Pacific Response Package, which will: