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.
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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.
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