Songs, tears and reunions: New Zealand welcomes back visitors as border reopens after two years

Garth and Chris Halliday cried as their son Stephen arrived with his wife and son, who they hadn’t seen in over a year, the news website Stuff reported. Garth said the tearful airport scenes were reminiscent of those in the film Love Actually, while Stephen said it was “emotional” to be home.

An American tourist told RNZ through tears they had wanted to visit New Zealand for many years. “I’m finally here. It’s amazing,” they said.

Vaccinated international visitors can enter New Zealand if they have had a negative pre-departure Covid test. On arrival, they must self-test for coronavirus, and unless it comes back positive there is no requirement quarantine or self-isolate.

All other international visitors will be allowed to enter New Zealand from October, unless the government decides it is safe to do so earlier.

The tourism minister, Stuart Nash, who greeted arrivals at the gate with a Whittaker’s Peanut Slab chocolate bar, told 1News the reunions “almost bring a tear to the eye”.

“People haven’t seen each other for a long, long time – family and friends,” he said. “We have also, of course, got international business people [who] are able to reconnect and they are coming back.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/02/songs-tears-and-reunions-new-zealand-welcomes-back-tourists-as-border-reopens-after-two-years