New Zealand Opening After Two Years – Aussies Welcomed First

New Zealand will reopen its border to the world next month and will end the “fortress” settings that kept Covid-19 out for much of the pandemic.

Australians will be allowed to enter without needing to isolate on arrival from 11:59 p.m. on April 12, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Wednesday in Wellington.

Countries such as the U.S., U.K., Japan, Singapore and Germany, with visa-free arrangements will be able to enter from midnight May 1 she said.

Ardern slammed the border two years ago, allowing citizens to enter, but only through managed isolation facilities.

New Zealand was successful in preventing its population from coming in contact with Covid 19. However, its defences were not enough to withstand the omicron variant of the virus which is now rapidly spreading.

Ending border restrictions will be great for New Zealand’s tourism industry — the nation’s biggest export earner before the two-year absence of foreign visitors.
 

How has COVID affected New Zealand Dollar rates?

Lets take a look at some popular Buy NZD exchange rates compared to two years ago in those distant pre-COVID days.

AUD to NZD

The Aussie dollar bought 1.04 New Zealand dollars just before the global pandemic crisis back in March 2020. After an initial drop to 1.02 it improved to 1.09 and currently at the time of writing (mid-March 2022) sits at 1.06.

USD to NZD

The US dollar in March 2020 bought over 1.60 New Zealand dollars just before the global pandemic crisis in March 2020. After an initial jump to 1.70 it dived to mid 1.30s one year into the pandemic. In the second year of the pandemic the US dollar has slowly improved towards buying 1.50 NZD.

EUR to NZD

FJD to NZD

INR to NZD

For more information read our practical foreign exchange and currency guide to New Zealand.

Disclaimer: Please note any provider recommendations, currency forecasts or any opinions of our authors or users should not be taken as a reference to buy or sell any financial product.