It was hugs and tears all round today as family and friends reunited on the first day of the trans-Tasman bubble.
A passenger on the first quarantine-free flight into Auckland embraces with a loved one
Photo: RNZ/ Dan Cook
Thousands of people flew into New Zealand today from Australia on quarantine-free flights.
RNZ photographers and reporters were at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown airports capturing the emotional reunions on camera.
Reporter Tess Brunton and camera operator Simon Rogers - both Australians - were on the first flight leaving Auckland this morning, heading to Sydney.
Passengers leaving Auckland on first day of trans-Tasman bubble
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
After a year of waiting, quarantine-free green flights between Australia and New Zealand have begun today - only the second such travel bubble operating in a world still under siege from Covid-19.
Australia and New Zealand join Taiwan and Palau as neighbours providing reciprocal, restriction-free travel, after achieving joint success in eliminating community cases and controlling Covid-19 at the border.
RNZ reporter Tess Brunton who was among passengers on the first flight out of Auckland bound for Sydney was thrilled to land in the country of her birth and looking forward to seeing her family again.
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Tourism Minister Stuart Nash s freedom camping crackdown
9 Apr, 2021 07:11 AM
5 minutes to read
Freedom campers in Te Puke in May 2018. Photo / Stuart Whitaker
RNZ
By Tess Brunton of RNZ
Tougher penalties and fines are on the cards as part of a proposed crackdown on irresponsible freedom camping.
Tourism Minister Stuart Nash has released a plan to hike the costs for those who break the rules and strengthen the standard for self-contained vehicles, and is putting it to the public for their feedback.
He is clear about what he wants.
Advertisement I would like non-self-contained campervans or vehicles to be banned. But we are putting this out to consultation and I m open to be swayed, Nash said.
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