New Zealand Keen on ‘Trans-Tasman Bubble’ With Australia, Says Deputy PM
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - APRIL 16: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parlaiment on April 16, 2020 in Wellington, New Zealand. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern outlined details of a potential move to Alert Level 3 which will see many significant restrictions on New Zealanders’ movements retained, but will permit aspects of the economy to reopen in a safe way that will allow the economic recovery to begin. New Zealand has been in lockdown since Thursday 26 March following tough restrictions imposed by the government to stop the spread of COVID-19 across the country. A State of National Emergency is in place along with an Epidemic Notice to help ensure the continuity of essential Government business. Under the COVID-19 Alert Level Four measures, all non-essential businesses are closed, including bars, restaurants, cinemas and playgrounds. Schools are closed and all indoor and outdoor events are banned. Essential services will remain open, including supermarkets and pharmacies. Lockdown measures are expected to remain in place for around four weeks, with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warning there will be zero tolerance for people ignoring the restrictions, with police able to enforce them if required. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins - Pool/Getty Images) Photographer: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac
, Photographer: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac
Matthew Brockett, Bloomberg News
(Bloomberg) -- New Zealand and Australia could open their borders to each other if they continue to make good progress containing the coronavirus, according to New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
“Our figures with Australia, it’s almost like we’ve got a trans-Tasman bubble between our two countries, and if the figures keep on going that way, that is a serious possibility,” he told Television New Zealand on Thursday, referring to the Tasman Sea that separates the two nations. “We’re exploring that as we speak.”
Asked about the possibility at a news conference later Thursday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said such an idea had been discussed with Singapore but stressed it was unlikely until the countries were confident they were containing the virus. She expected to have similar conversations with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, she said.
“Both of us have the same goal in mind at the moment -- get it under control in our own countries and then we can talk about together what we’re able to achieve,” Ardern said. “For both of us I anticipate the border restrictions will be present for a long time, so it becomes whether or not there’s anything we can build into our border restrictions that take into account our goals to keep Covid out for both of us.”
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