March 16, 2020: Mandatory self-isolation for all new arrivals, including New Zealanders in the country.
March 19: All non-residents or citizens are barred from entering the country by an international border ban.
March 25: Nationwide lockdown enforced, with only essential services allowed to open. At this point New Zealand has recorded 102 cases and 0 deaths.
8 June 2020: Ardern announces no new community transmissions in past two weeks and says New Zealand has eliminated transmission of Covid.
August-September 2020: Auckland’s 1.7million residents endure lockdown measures for two months after initially registering 4 new cases.
February-March 2021: Auckland goes back into lockdown as three new Covid cases are registered in the community.
17 August: All of New Zealand re-enters Level 4 lockdown measures for two weeks as a new community case is registered.
October: A traffic light system is put in place, preventing unvaccinated residents from entering shops, gyms and hairdressers in “red” or “amber” warning zones.
December: The government delays the planned reopening of its border in February because of the spreading Omicron variant.
December 21: The length of stay for people in Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities is increased to 10 days.
January 2022: Public backlash as major events and sporting events are limited to a maximum of 100 people as part of the Covid red alert.
Jan 18: Government postpones administered isolation and quarantine lottery due to surge in Covid cases.
January: Ardern announced that she had called off her own wedding after nine new Omicron cases were registered.
February: The government announces plans to open the country to New Zealanders and eligible travelers from Australia, who are allowed to skip quarantine as long as they self-isolate for 10 days.
March 2: Vaccinated travelers entering the country will no longer have to self-isolate on arrival.
May 2: Travelers from the UK and travelers from other countries that are visa-exempt will be allowed to enter the country without self-isolation.
August 2022: The New Zealand government eases restrictions to allow all travelers to enter the country, provided they are vaccinated and undergo two rapid antigen tests upon arrival.
