borders, which have largely been closed for almost two years because of the pandemic. from the end of february, fully—vaccinated new zealand citizens and residents from australia will be granted entry without spending two weeks at an official quarantine new zealanders in the rest of the world can return from mid—march, and the final border restrictions are due to end in october. i'm joined now by phil mercer in sydney. great to have you on the programme. just to say, this is a huge departure, isn't it, from new zealand's original covid policy. talk us through the changes.— covid policy. talk us through the changes. covid policy. talk us through the chances. ~ . ., the changes. well, once upon a time, the changes. well, once upon a time. during — the changes. well, once upon a time, during the _ the changes. well, once upon a time, during the start _ the changes. well, once upon a time, during the start of - time, during the start of the pandemic, new zealand had a covid zero policy, but events really have overtaken new zealand, even over the best parts of two years, most financials have been barred from entering the country apart from entering the country apart from a brief travel bubble with australia. so the news today from the minister, jacinda ardern, really is a gradual