New Zealand's borders to remain shut as it eyes re-opening to vaccinated travellers early 2022

Ardern said the country will also speed up its vaccination rollout with all eligible ages able to book their vaccine by September 1

Ardern said the country will also speed up its vaccination rollout with all eligible ages able to book their vaccine by September 1.

New Zealand plans to allow quarantine-free entry to vaccinated travellers from low-risk countries from early 2022, as it looks to open its borders again after nearly 18 months of pandemic-induced isolation.

Tight border controls and its geographic advantage helped New Zealand stamp out Covid-19 much faster than almost all other countries, but this left the Pacific island nation of 5m almost entirely cut off from the rest of the world.