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New Zealand set to finally reopen its borders

Nov. 24, 2021
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3 min read
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New Zealand set to finally reopen its borders
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After nearly two years of some of the toughest travel restrictions on the planet, New Zealand has circled a date on the calendar to reopen for international visitors: April 30, 2022.

The remote South Pacific nation will remain closed to most international travelers for an additional five months as it cautiously navigates the remnants of another surge in COVID-19 cases that broke out earlier this year. New Zealand has essentially been cut off from overseas tourism for nearly two years and has been eyeing a 2022 reopening for some time.

When international tourism resumes next year, fully vaccinated travelers will be allowed to enter. They will have to self-quarantine for seven days upon their arrival. Along with proof of vaccination, international visitors will also have to show a negative COVID test result taken prior to departure, as well as take a COVID test when they land in New Zealand.

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Vaccinated New Zealanders and those who have residence visas in neighboring Australia can resume traveling to New Zealand even sooner, from 16 January. Fully vaxxed New Zealand citizens and residence visa holders from other countries will be allowed in from 13 February. A travel bubble was established earlier this year between New Zealand and Australia.

"A phased approach to reconnecting with the world is the safest approach to ensure risk is carefully managed," said COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, per Reuters.

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The government has been feeling pressure to ease border restrictions as ex-pat New Zealanders were eager to return home for the holidays. The volatility over travel protocols has reportedly forced Air New Zealand to cancel roughly 1,000 flights to Australia.

Related: 9 reasons New Zealand should be on your bucket list

Due to its isolated geographic location, the Kiwi government implemented incredibly tight protocols as the pandemic took hold. Those restrictions are said to have helped the New Zealand economy rebound quicker than many other countries. It also contributed to just 40 deaths in New Zealand attributed to COVID, a number far less than recorded in other countries.

But the most recent outbreak, blamed on the highly contagious Delta variant, proved immensely stubborn. Despite placing the city of Auckland under lockdown for three months, the virus continued to spread, forcing New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern to change the country's COVID strategy. Auckland will shift to a traffic light policy from 3 December that will allow businesses in the country's largest city to operate again.

In the new system, regions will be slotted into a red, orange, or green setting depending on their level of exposure to COVID-19 and vaccination rates. Auckland, the epicenter of the most recent outbreak, will start at red.

About 83 percent of eligible citizens are said to be fully vaccinated at the moment. However, the prime minister acknowledges the new shift in strategy signals that its time New Zealand treats the virus as endemic.

“The hard truth is that delta is here and not going away, but New Zealand is well set to tackle it because of our high vaccination rates and our latest safety measures including the traffic light system and Vaccine Pass,” Ardern said in a statement.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Best for dining at restaurants

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.