The government had confirmed pre-departure tests will be scrapped from June 20.

Covid-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall says the government had intended to remove the requirement by July 31 but as cases continued to decline despite an increase in travellers, there was evidence the measure could now be lifted.

"Around 90 per cent of international arrivals undertake their required testing once they are in the country, with only a 2-3 percent positivity rate. So we don't anticipate a significant increase in border cases once the requirement is lifted."

The availability and cost of getting a test has also increasingly become a barrier to people travelling to New Zealand, she says.

Travellers will still be required to self-test on day 0/1 and again on day 5/6.

Anyone who tested positive will need to get a PCR test to allow the government to understand what new strains of Covid-19 are arriving at the border, she says.

"Also from Monday evening, passengers transiting through New Zealand will no longer need to be vaccinated, nor be required to complete a New Zealand Traveller Declaration.

"Travellers with Covid-19 like symptoms (e.g. Hayfever) will also be able to choose between showing a negative Covid test, or a certificate from a health professional ― stating that they are unlikely to have Covid-19 ― before travelling."

Last month, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says the full reopening of the international border is being delayed by visa processing, not public health concerns.

And in a statement last month ACT leader David Seymour says the government should immediately ditch pre-departure tests.

"Tourist operators say we're not really open for business until we remove the friction from coming here," he says.

"We have got our assumptions back to front. If the government cannot justify restricting people, it should stop restricting them. If the Minister can't justify a reason for pre-departure testing, it's time to dump it."

When announcing the August reopening of the international border, the government signalled the requirement for a pre-departure test would be dropped by the time the international border fully re-opens at the end of July.

A 'major barrier' removed

The removal of pre-departure tests would mean a lot more people travelling to New Zealand and increased capacity, Travel Agents' Association president Brent Thomas told Morning Report.

He expects about 65 per cent of 2019's inbound travel in the fourth quarter.

"New Zealand's been one of the last countries to drop the pre-departure test requirements so seeing those go now will certainly take down a major barrier for entry into New Zealand.

"Tourism was the largest export earner back in 2019 and having that travel coming back into the market will not only help the New Zealand economy but it's also going to help from a New Zealand consumer point of view because of the supply and demand."

People have been looking for ease of travel and Australia is looking more favourable than New Zealand to the rest of the world, he says.

Flights to Australia from New Zealand are currently very expensive but there will soon be increased capacity.

National welcomes removal of pre-departure testing

The Government has finally done the right thing in belatedly abolishing pre-departure tests for travel to New Zealand, National's Covid-19 Response spokesperson Chris Bishop says.

'Australia did away with pre-departure testing weeks ago. The world is moving on and so should New Zealand.

'This step will remove a barrier for travellers to New Zealand and will help boost tourism, business and leisure travel. It's a vital step in reconnecting with the world after two years of isolation.

'Pre-departure tests made sense when we pursued elimination and were trying to catch every case. But with thousands of cases in the community daily, they are well past their use-by date.”

'Today's announcement is a good step forward.”

-RNZ.