The road transport industry is welcoming the Government’s move to open Auckland’s borders on December 15 following fears of “carnage” and further freight disruptions during the holiday season if they remained closed.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement at Wednesday’s media briefing which will see travel in and out of Auckland open up for vaccinated people or those with a negative test result.
Ardern says the country is now better prepared for the move with 82% of New Zealanders fully vaccinated compared to 23% three months ago. Projections are expecting 90% of the population to be fully vaccinated by mid-December.
Travellers will have to be either fully vaccinated or have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. This requirement will be in place for the core summer period from December 15 to January 17.
“Aucklanders have faced restrictions for an extended period of time to keep the rest of New Zealand safe. But with increased rates of vaccination it’s time to open up the ability to travel again,” Ardern says.
“Confirming December 15 as the date the boundary requirements change provides certainty. Aucklanders can now book summer travel and accommodation with confidence and businesses inside Auckland and around the rest of the country can plan for summer travellers.
“The boundary is of course two ways, so the changes also mean Aucklanders and Auckland businesses can start receiving New Zealanders from all over the country, allowing families and friends to reconnect and business to receive a much needed boost before Christmas,” she says.
Police will have operational discretion on the enforcement of the rules and will undertake random spot checks with fines of $1000 for those breaking the rules.
Vaccine certificate or testing requirements for Air New Zealand and the Interislander means the rules will also be monitored for travel to the South Island.
On the northern boundary, Police says they will work with iwi to ensure people can move and that the checks that are in place.
Truckies welcome move
Transporting NZ chief executive Nick Leggett says the trucking industry has “fought hard” for the removal of the Auckland road borders.
“It’s good that we have been heard by officials and it shows the value of relationships and common sense.
“We knew that continuing borders would be unworkable for transport companies at peak season as trucks would have been competing with the many additional thousands of cars that will be seeking to get away,” Leggett says.
For truckies it means proof of travel will no longer be required to move in and out of Auckland.
Legget says transport operators will be able to retain their current testing regime that requires drivers to show evidence of a test within the previous seven days rather than proof of a negative test within 72 hours.
“That system is seen by Ministry of Transport to be operating well and they see no reason to change it,” he says.
Vaccinated drivers will also be able to have the certificate that proves their vaccination status.
“We will continue to work with government officials and police to ensure those at the operational level are aware of this requirement,” Leggett says.
Traffic light system
Cabinet will also confirm on November 29 its decision to move Auckland into the new traffic light system.
Ardern is expecting this move to occur “soon after” this date which will see Auckland initially move into ‘red’ which is the highest level in the system.
The rest of the country will move also move into the new framework and parts of the country with lower vaccination rates will also move into red.
“We have deliberately set the date for the boundary restrictions to change in a month’s time in order to give the rest of New Zealand time to move into the safer traffic light system and the chance to increase vaccination rates even further,” Ardern says.
