Pursuant to clause 26 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 (“Order”), I, Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response, having taken into account the advice of the Director-General of Health, declare that the following class of persons is exempt from clause 8(2B) of the Order (being the pre-departure testing requirements):

Persons who arrive in New Zealand by air if their journey to New Zealand began (or is taken by clause 8(4AA) of the Order to have begun) from one of the following places:

• Albania
• Belize
• Dominica
• Kenya
• Laos
• Montenegro
• Myanmar
• Slovenia
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan.

This exemption is subject to the following conditions:

1. a person subject to the exemption must obtain a certificate from a medical practitioner (as defined in clause 4(1) of the Order) no more than 72 hours before their journey to New Zealand began (or is taken by clause 8(4AA) to have begun) confirming they do not have symptoms which indicate that they are likely to transmit COVID-19; and

2. the person must produce this certificate when requested by 1 or more of the following:

1. a health protection officer;
2. a staff member or representative of the relevant air carrier;
3. an immigration officer; or
4. an enforcement officer;

3. the person must be transferred as soon as practicable to an MIQF for Day 0/1 COVID-19 testing once the necessary border entry procedures have been completed after the person’s arrival in New Zealand.

The exemption will begin at 11.59pm on 5 May 2021.

The Exemption of Persons from Clause 8(2B) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 (New Zealand Gazette, 26 January 2021, Notice No. 2021-go222) is revoked.

Dated at Wellington this 30th day of April 2021.

Hon CHRIS HIPKINS, Minister for COVID-19 Response.