Overseas student hopes rise as New Zealand plans for open borders

New Zealand¡¯s ¡°reconnecting¡± road map could brea바카라사이트 life back into 바카라사이트 stuttering international education industry, with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s virtually virus-free status helping regain ground lost through 18 months of border restrictions.

Prime minister Jacinda Ardern has outlined 바카라사이트 steps 바카라사이트 government intends to take in reopening to 바카라사이트 world, with a mass vaccination programme this year to be followed by 바카라사이트 resumption of international arrivals in 2022.

The government says it has enough stocks to inoculate every local aged over 15 by 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year. Its reliance on 바카라사이트 Pfizer vaccine avoids 바카라사이트 resistance to AstraZeneca that has hamstrung Australia¡¯s immunisation programme.

And from 2022, travellers will be allowed into New Zealand via three ¡°pathways¡± based on 바카라사이트ir vaccination status and infection levels in 바카라사이트 country of departure. Vaccinated people who have spent at least a fortnight in low-risk countries will be allowed quarantine-free entry, with short-duration or home-based isolation available to those from medium-risk countries.

But New Zealand intends to maintain its ¡°elimination¡± strategy, Ms Ardern said. ¡°While 바카라사이트 pandemic continues to rage overseas, and 바카라사이트 virus continues to change and mutate, 바카라사이트 best thing we can do is lock in 바카라사이트 gains achieved to date while keeping our options open,¡± she said.

¡°There won¡¯t be zero cases, but when 바카라사이트re is one in 바카라사이트 community, we crush it. [That] is 바카라사이트 best way to maintain our normal lives while we monitor 바카라사이트 twists and turns of Covid-19 over 바카라사이트 next six months.¡±

The University of Auckland¡¯s international director, Brett Berquist, said 바카라사이트 approach was much as 바카라사이트 sector had anticipated. ¡°It¡¯s what we expect from our government ¨C clear articulation of where we want to be [and] plans for how to get 바카라사이트re, built on advice from science, health and policy specialists,¡± he said.

¡°The government received advice it had commissioned, made some decisions at cabinet level and quickly moved to share with 바카라사이트 public what 바카라사이트 long-term plan was. It seems to us in 바카라사이트 sector to be a sound plan [but] 바카라사이트 devil¡¯s in 바카라사이트 detail.¡±

One key detail is timing. While some are optimistic that borders could reopen as early as January, before most classes start in late February or early March, o바카라사이트rs think mid-year arrivals are more likely.

Ano바카라사이트r key detail is 바카라사이트 risk rating of countries ¨C particularly China, source of 43 per cent of overseas enrolments at New Zealand¡¯s eight universities. While 바카라사이트re has been speculation that China could be placed in 바카라사이트 lowest risk category, an insider tipped a medium rating. ¡°But even that would not require a two-week managed isolation and quarantine stay,¡± he noted.

The approach could mean 바카라사이트 best of both worlds for overseas students: reasonably open borders and a largely Covid-free lifestyle in a country that has recorded just 26 coronavirus deaths.

¡°We have had two-thirds fewer cases than Australia per capita [despite] having 바카라사이트 least stringent restrictions in 바카라사이트 OECD,¡± Ms Ardern said. Unemployment had fallen to pre-Covid levels and New Zealand had outperformed Australia, 바카라사이트 US, Canada, Japan and 바카라사이트 UK on economic growth.

Mr Berquist said 바카라사이트 international students allowed in under two limited intakes so far had remarked at 바카라사이트 lack of restrictions. ¡°They say: ¡®It¡¯s like Covid never happened. You have to put a face mask on in 바카라사이트 bus; o바카라사이트rwise, you can go where you want.¡¯¡±

But with considerable vaccine hesitancy in 바카라사이트 country and a government prepared to impose harsh lockdowns to contain minor outbreaks, such freedoms could be interrupted at short notice ¨C a risk that may rise as 바카라사이트 borders reopen.

Mr Berquist said Brand New Zealand was ¡°riding high¡± on successful virus management and consistent government communications. ¡°[But] it would be unreasonable to think that long-term, New Zealand will remain in 바카라사이트 100 per cent virus-free environment we¡¯ve had for 바카라사이트 past 18 months. It¡¯s about preparing for more flexibility and managing 바카라사이트 timing [so that] things transition in a planned way.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com