New Zealand October & November 2021 departures cancelled

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Apparently NZ will announce border opening plans on August 12th. Copied the below from FT. It should be interesting to see an outline of the plan.

Next Thursday, 12 August, Ardern will set out the government's future approach to the border and public health measures, and release the advice from experts on how to open the border safely. It comes after Australia announced a month ago it would halve the number of people allowed into the country to achieve high vaccination rates in preparation for opening the border widely. However, New Zealand has since shut down quarantine-free travel with Australia for eight weeks as several states work to control outbreaks of the Delta variant.

 

[Mathmagicland]

At this point, I probably won't book another NZ trip until I actually see ABD complete a trip in NZ. I'm going to take a wild guess and say NZ may be the last country on earth to reopen for group tours.

I agree - I finally requested my refund this week from my cancelled October 2021 trip, as I couldn’t make any of the remaining 2021-22 departures work, and there was not enough confidence in any possible NZ departure at this point to book something in 2022-23 dates yet.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Update from the NZ PM below:

"New Zealand will begin testing self-isolation instead of MIQ for vaccinated people this year, with a new border system based on low, medium and high-risk entry paths kicking in from early 2022, the government has announced.

Vaccinations will also be open to all eligible ages from 1 September and the gap between first and second doses will be moved to six weeks instead of three, as the government continues with its elimination strategy. People should also expect the rules around mask wearing and QR code scanning to change at higher alert levels. The government has been responding to the Skegg report on reconnecting New Zealand with the rest of the world. The report was based on work by a group of public health specialists led by Professor Sir David Skegg, and warned that a full rollout of the vaccine would be required to start opening up to the world.A forum on the report and the government's response to it has been held in Wellington this morning, revealing the government's four-step plan for border management.

A careful approach that says 'there won't be zero cases, but when there is one in the community, we crush it" is the best way to maintain our normal lives while we monitor the twists and turns of Covid-19 over the next six months." "Key to this is maintaining our Elimination Strategy. The advice is clear: If we open our borders now we will lose the freedoms and advantages we have achieved so far," she said.

She announced the new border system would assess people's risk individually:

• Low risk: Vaccinated travellers from low risk countries: no isolation required
• Medium risk: Vaccinated travellers from medium risk countries: modified isolation requirements
• High risk: Unvaccinated travellers and all travellers from high risk countries: 14 days in MIQ

The system would also require pre-departure tests and further testing for travellers coming into New Zealand, and would be backed by moves to speed up the vaccination rollout."

I'd say based on this report that December trips won't be going, nor will January and possibly February. I have no idea what will happen with our March trip. I wonder how they will classify "low risk" and "medium risk" countries .

 

[sayhello]

Update from the NZ PM below:

"New Zealand will begin testing self-isolation instead of MIQ for vaccinated people this year, with a new border system based on low, medium and high-risk entry paths kicking in from early 2022, the government has announced.

Vaccinations will also be open to all eligible ages from 1 September and the gap between first and second doses will be moved to six weeks instead of three, as the government continues with its elimination strategy. People should also expect the rules around mask wearing and QR code scanning to change at higher alert levels. The government has been responding to the Skegg report on reconnecting New Zealand with the rest of the world. The report was based on work by a group of public health specialists led by Professor Sir David Skegg, and warned that a full rollout of the vaccine would be required to start opening up to the world.A forum on the report and the government's response to it has been held in Wellington this morning, revealing the government's four-step plan for border management.

A careful approach that says 'there won't be zero cases, but when there is one in the community, we crush it" is the best way to maintain our normal lives while we monitor the twists and turns of Covid-19 over the next six months." "Key to this is maintaining our Elimination Strategy. The advice is clear: If we open our borders now we will lose the freedoms and advantages we have achieved so far," she said.

She announced the new border system would assess people's risk individually:

• Low risk: Vaccinated travellers from low risk countries: no isolation required
• Medium risk: Vaccinated travellers from medium risk countries: modified isolation requirements
• High risk: Unvaccinated travellers and all travellers from high risk countries: 14 days in MIQ

The system would also require pre-departure tests and further testing for travellers coming into New Zealand, and would be backed by moves to speed up the vaccination rollout."

I'd say based on this report that December trips won't be going, nor will January and possibly February. I have no idea what will happen with our March trip. I wonder how they will classify "low risk" and "medium risk" countries .

Yes, I agree. Seeing as everyone being vaccinated and having the US be designated as a low risk country would be required for entry without isolation, that it's not likely that this 6-month plan will jive with ABD running it's tours in New Zealand during that period...

Sayhello

 

[aggiedog]

I don’t see the US being “low risk” for a long while.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I wonder how long it will take ABD to cancel December, January and February trips? I read the below snippet in this morning's paper. I really can't see NZ opening the border before mid-2022 at the earliest.

"New Zealand's government took drastic action Tuesday by putting the entire nation into a strict lockdown for at least three days after finding a single case of coronavirus infection in the community.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern invoked some of the stirring rhetoric she used early in the pandemic by urging the “team of 5 million” — New Zealand's population — to go hard and early in trying to eliminate the latest outbreak.

"We have seen what happens elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it," Ardern said. “We only get one chance.”

She said Auckland, where the infected man lives, and Coromandel, where he had visited, would go into a full lockdown for seven days and the remainder of the country for three days while health experts tried to find the source of his infection.

The developments prompted people to line up outside supermarkets to stock up on essential items and sparked a sharp drop in the value of the New Zealand dollar.

New Zealand had managed to stamp out the virus, and the last outbreak was in February. But Ardern had been warning that the contagiousness of the Delta variant would likely require more drastic action than previous outbreaks."

 

[2-pointdoe]

I hate the waiting! We are PIF along with airfare. We could be planning something else.

I wonder how long it will take ABD to cancel December, January and February trips? I read the below snippet in this morning's paper. I really can't see NZ opening the border before mid-2022 at the earliest.

"New Zealand's government took drastic action Tuesday by putting the entire nation into a strict lockdown for at least three days after finding a single case of coronavirus infection in the community.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern invoked some of the stirring rhetoric she used early in the pandemic by urging the “team of 5 million” — New Zealand's population — to go hard and early in trying to eliminate the latest outbreak.

"We have seen what happens elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it," Ardern said. “We only get one chance.”

She said Auckland, where the infected man lives, and Coromandel, where he had visited, would go into a full lockdown for seven days and the remainder of the country for three days while health experts tried to find the source of his infection.

The developments prompted people to line up outside supermarkets to stock up on essential items and sparked a sharp drop in the value of the New Zealand dollar.

New Zealand had managed to stamp out the virus, and the last outbreak was in February. But Ardern had been warning that the contagiousness of the Delta variant would likely require more drastic action than previous outbreaks."

 

[Cousin Orville]

I wonder how long it will take ABD to cancel December, January and February trips? I read the below snippet in this morning's paper. I really can't see NZ opening the border before mid-2022 at the earliest.

"New Zealand's government took drastic action Tuesday by putting the entire nation into a strict lockdown for at least three days after finding a single case of coronavirus infection in the community.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern invoked some of the stirring rhetoric she used early in the pandemic by urging the “team of 5 million” — New Zealand's population — to go hard and early in trying to eliminate the latest outbreak.

"We have seen what happens elsewhere if we fail to get on top of it," Ardern said. “We only get one chance.”

She said Auckland, where the infected man lives, and Coromandel, where he had visited, would go into a full lockdown for seven days and the remainder of the country for three days while health experts tried to find the source of his infection.

The developments prompted people to line up outside supermarkets to stock up on essential items and sparked a sharp drop in the value of the New Zealand dollar.

New Zealand had managed to stamp out the virus, and the last outbreak was in February. But Ardern had been warning that the contagiousness of the Delta variant would likely require more drastic action than previous outbreaks."

We're just waiting for our Dec ABD to be officially cancelled. We've made alternative plans for Southern Spain at this point.

 

[ImprovGal]

We're just waiting for our Dec ABD to be officially cancelled. We've made alternative plans for Southern Spain at this point.

FWIW, the Dec 2021 departure dates no longer appear under "Rates and Dates". The first departure that currently appears is Jan 24, 2022 (which has appeared as waitlist since originally "selling out"). I'm still booked on it, but waiting for them to cancel as well.
Last I heard, NZ is now up to 10 cases.

 

[Cousin Orville]

Was just notified that the December ABD has been cancelled.

 

[2-pointdoe]

Yep, me too.

Was just notified that the December ABD has been cancelled.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

We're just waiting for our Dec ABD to be officially cancelled. We've made alternative plans for Southern Spain at this point.

I would love to see your itinerary. I told ds that I am going to book a trip to Spain (Madrid, Seville, Granada and San Sebastian) for next September since we most likely won't be going to NZ in March.

 

[ImprovGal]

And this afternoon I received an email from ABD with the new "Adventure Travel Agreement". I can't believe there's any chance of my departure actually happening on 1/24/22.

 

[Mathmagicland]

And this afternoon I received an email from ABD with the new "Adventure Travel Agreement". I can't believe there's any chance of my departure actually happening on 1/24/22.

Did they say what’s “new” about it? Wondering what’s changed.

 

[Cousin Orville]

I would love to see your itinerary. I told ds that I am going to book a trip to Spain (Madrid, Seville, Granada and San Sebastian) for next September since we most likely won't be going to NZ in March.

still finalizing but basically Granada, Finca La Donaira (a glamping agritourismo), and Seville. Maybe side trips to Cordoba or Ronda.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

Oh boy. Now NZ has now cut off access for their own citizens wanting to return. I wonder when ABD will cancel the January, February and March departures. It's pretty clear now that they won't be there in the first quarter of 2022.

"Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins also announced that the government would pause access to its Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system – the government-managed quarantine facilities that all those re-entering the country must pass through.

Spaces in MIQ are allocated using a voucher system that overseas New Zealanders must book in advance. Those vouchers are hotly in-demand, and spaces are typically snapped up within moments of release.

While people who have already booked spaces will still be able to enter the country, the pause means no additional vouchers will be released until further notice. New Zealanders based overseas have struggled for months to secure spots, with some reporting it is forcing people to violate visa conditions, and causing extreme psychological distress."

 

[ImprovGal]

Oh boy. Now NZ has now cut off access for their own citizens wanting to return. I wonder when ABD will cancel the January, February and March departures. It's pretty clear now that they won't be there in the first quarter of 2022.

"Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins also announced that the government would pause access to its Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system – the government-managed quarantine facilities that all those re-entering the country must pass through.

Spaces in MIQ are allocated using a voucher system that overseas New Zealanders must book in advance. Those vouchers are hotly in-demand, and spaces are typically snapped up within moments of release.

While people who have already booked spaces will still be able to enter the country, the pause means no additional vouchers will be released until further notice. New Zealanders based overseas have struggled for months to secure spots, with some reporting it is forcing people to violate visa conditions, and causing extreme psychological distress."

It looks like there must have been some guests proactively cancelling the 1/24/2022 departure, as it no longer shows as waitlist and once again has rates listed.

 

[Lando1]

We’re booked for December 2022 and I’d be amazed if that’s not an unaltered or cancelled trip. Covid will still be a problem by then. Just wondering, if we cancel soon is there such a thing as a placeholder account to put our deposit in until we’re ready to rebook something else?

 

[abdgeek]

We’re booked for December 2022 and I’d be amazed if that’s not an unaltered or cancelled trip. Covid will still be a problem by then. Just wondering, if we cancel soon is there such a thing as a placeholder account to put our deposit in until we’re ready to rebook something else?

I‘m on one of the NZ December 2022 trips too and chose it because I figured it had the best chance of going based on their handling of COVID. I hope I wasn’t wrong. I knew they wouldn’t reopen until March 2022 and figured they would be back to normal by my trip. I guess we’ll see.

 

[*WDW*Groupie*]

I read today that the NZ government is likely releasing spots in MIQ later this week for quarantine spots in December and January. Is there anyone (other than, apparently, the folks at ABD) who thinks the January, 2022 ABD will depart? With where NZ is now with Delta I can't see any of the trips in the first quarter going. It sure would be nice to see ABD cancel the trips so that people can make alternate plans .