The reopening of New Zealand's border is welcome news for millions of New Zealanders offshore and at home, says Opposition Leader Christopher Luxon.

The New Zealand border will begin opening up later this month, with a full reopening penciled in for October.

The border will reopen to vaccinated New Zealanders travelling from Australia at 11.59pm on February 27, with the role of Managed Isolation diminishing, although remaining in place for unvaccinated arrivals.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says whilst MIQ has been a vital tool in New Zealand's pandemic response until now, it was 'time to move again".

'We are in a new phase in our Covid response,” says Ardern.

'Covid as an illness hasn't touched many of us to date. But with the transmissibility of Omicron we know we will experience the virus more directly. But the difference here is that we have all the tools possible now to prepare.

'We are vaccinated, increasingly boosted, and continue to prepare ourselves at home and work with a plan.

'Now it is time, to move forward together, safely.”

Christopher Luxon says this is the right move for NZ.

'National has been calling for the Government to end the lottery of human misery that is MIQ and we are pleased that New Zealanders offshore now have some light at the end of the tunnel.

'Today's announcement is a victory for the 100,000 people who signed National's petition to end MIQ and the one million Kiwis around the world who, for the last two years, have been blocked from coming home to their family and friends.

'It's also good news for businesses and workplaces that rely on New Zealand being open to the world so that they can get the critical workers they need into the country.

'I know there will be people who will be sceptical or nervous that the Government might not keep to these dates, so National will hold them to account and ensure they stick to these commitments.

'We know that MIQ no longer makes sense so it's right that it should come to an end.

'The last two years haven't been easy for anyone, and it's been especially rough on Kiwis forced to enter a lottery to enter their own country.

'I look forward to seeing those ‘grounded Kiwis' walking off those planes from the end of February and reuniting with loved ones here in New Zealand that they've missed for so long.”