Pursuant to clause 26 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020, the Minister for COVID-19 Response gives the following notice after complying with that clause.

Notice

1 Title

This notice is the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice (No 3) 2021.

2 Commencement

This notice comes into force at 11.59am on 28 April 2021.

3 Interpretation

In this notice,—

Air Border Order means the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020

QFT exemption notice means the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice 2021 (New Zealand Gazette, 16 April 2021, Notice No. 2021-go1441)

QFT (No 2) notice means the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice (No 2) 2021 (New Zealand Gazette, 24 April 2021, Notice No. 2021-go1571).

4 Revocation

The QFT (No 2) notice is revoked.

5 Additional Condition of Exemption Allowing Quarantine-free Travel by Person

(1) This clause imposes an additional condition on an exemption under clause 4(1) of the QFT exemption notice (which relates to a person who arrives in New Zealand on an aircraft undertaking a QFT flight).

(2) The condition is that a statement is made by, or on behalf of, the person before boarding the aircraft that—

1. the person is neither a close contact nor a casual contact; or
2. the person is a close contact and—
   1. has, for 14 days after their last risk event, self-isolated by complying with the requirements of clauses 15D and 15G of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Order 2020—
      1. as if they were a relevant worker and not required to notify the Ministry of Health of their intended place of self-isolation; and
      2. with any other necessary modifications; and
   2. has evidence of a qualifying pre-departure test; or
3. the person is a casual contact and—
   1. has satisfied all health requirements imposed by authorities in Australia, including any requirements for self-isolation or testing; and
   2. is departing on an aircraft for New Zealand no earlier than 14 days after their last risk event.

(3) In this clause,—

casual contact—

1. means a person who has been exposed to a confirmed case or probable case but who is not a close contact; and
2. in particular, means a person, other than a close contact, who has been at a location in Western Australia, and during the relevant time, specified on the website for locations of interest

close contact—

1. means a person who is likely to be at a higher risk of being infected with COVID-19 by a confirmed case or probable case by certain high-risk exposure to the case, without appropriate personal protective equipment, during the case’s infectious period; and
2. in particular, means a person who—
   1. has been advised by the Department of Health of Western Australia that they are a close contact of a confirmed case; or
   2. is required to be tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate for 14 days as a result of having been at a location in Western Australia, and during the relevant time, specified on the website for locations of interest

confirmed case means a person who is confirmed to have COVID-19 in the state of Western Australia at or after the start time for confirmed cases

last risk event, for a person, means the last event that meant the person became, or continued to be, a close contact or casual contact (as appropriate)

probable case means a person who will probably become a confirmed case

qualifying pre-departure test, for a person, means a negative result, or a certificate, that would satisfy clause 8(2B)(a) of the Air Border Order

start time for confirmed cases means 7.30pm on 17 April 2021 (New Zealand time, or 3.30pm on 17 April 2021 Perth time)

website for locations of interest means an Internet site on which the Department of Health of Western Australia specifies—

1. locations in Western Australia that were visited by a confirmed case; and
2. any relevant times of, or relating to, the visits (after the start time for confirmed cases).

6 Transitional Provision

(1) The additional condition imposed by the QFT (No 2) notice continues to apply only in relation to a QFT flight that departs for New Zealand before the commencement of this notice.

(2) The additional condition imposed by clause 5 applies only in relation to a QFT flight that departs for New Zealand on or after the commencement of this notice.

Dated at Wellington this 28th day of April 2021.

Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL, Associate Minister of Health.

Explanatory Note

This note is not part of the notice, but is intended to indicate its general effect.

This notice comes into force at 11.59am on 28 April 2021. It relates to the exemption under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice 2021 (“QFT exemption notice”). That notice exempts certain people who arrive in New Zealand on a quarantine-free travel flight (or QFT flight) from the requirements for—

• a confirmed allocation to enter a managed isolation or quarantine facility; and
• isolation or quarantine on arrival.

This notice revokes the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemption for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice (No 2) 2021, removing the additional condition it imposed on the exemption for a person under the QFT exemption notice. The additional condition was that the person had not been in the state of Western Australia at or after 11.30pm on 23 April 2021 (New Zealand time, or 7.30pm on 23 April 2021 Perth time).

This notice imposes a new additional condition on the exemption. The condition is that a statement is made by, or on behalf of, the person before boarding the aircraft. The statement relates to whether the person is a close contact or a casual contact (relating to exposure to cases in Western Australia after a certain time). For close contacts, the statement covers requirements for self-isolation and pre-departure testing. For casual contacts, the statement covers health requirements imposed by authorities in Australia and a requirement to delay departure after exposure.

The new additional condition applies only in relation to a QFT flight that departs for New Zealand on or after the commencement of this notice.

This notice is administered by the Ministry of Health.