Chinanews.com, December 14th. According to New Zealand's Tianwei.com, on the 14th local time, New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern stated that the New Zealand Cabinet agreed in principle to establish a Travel Bubble with Australia in early 2021 ).
The specific date of the plan will be announced in 2021.
Ardern said that on the afternoon of December 14, 2020 local time, the ministers had discussed the issue of the Cook Islands and Australia’s travel safety zone.
It is expected to establish a travel safety zone with Australia in the first quarter of 2021 and is awaiting confirmation from the Australian Cabinet.
Data map: New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern.
She said that officials have been preparing for this, and at the same time confirmed that one criterion for opening the travel safe zone is that there is no community transmission in both countries within 28 days.
If community transmission occurs, a clear plan will be needed to consider whether to close the border again and arrange services for the crew and airlines to ensure that there is enough space for potential returnees.
Ardern also said that the travel safety zone between the Cook Islands and New Zealand is expected to open first.
Epidemic Response Minister Chris Higgins stated that he will go to Auckland Airport on December 15, 2020 to study how to accommodate passengers from the travel safe zone.