The government has extended the currently in place temporary flight suspension from India for another 14 days.

Making the announcement Covid-response Minister Chris Hipkins said, “the cabinet has decided to extend the ban for another 14 days."

The suspension on flights from india will be on a 14 day rolling basis, with public health authorities and the government reassessing the decision. 

Earlier Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had announced the temporary flight suspension from India from April 14 to April 28.

Govt creates "very high risk country" category 

“In the latest stage of evolution at the border, the Government has created a new ‘very high risk country’ category that will significantly reduce the number of infected people flying to New Zealand," Chris Hipkins said. 

“This is in response to rapidly increasing rates of infection in parts of the globe and based on what is happening in the country, the prevalence of COVID-19 variants of concern, the public health measures the country has in place and the risk to our border.  

“The new category comes into force from 11.59pm on 28 April. Countries have initially been designated very high risk where there have been more than 50 cases of COVID-19 per 1000 arrivals to New Zealand from those countries in 2021, and where there are more than 15 travellers on average per month.

“India, Brazil, Papua New Guinea and Pakistan are the countries that currently meet that threshold, and as a result, travellers from those countries will be temporarily restricted to New Zealand citizens, their partners and children, and parents of children who are New Zealand citizens.