its international borders and it was going to start on january 17 for new zealand citizens and visa holders here in australia and then it was going to be for new zealanders anywhere in the world and then by the end of april 2022 it was going to be for any fully vaccinated visitor from any part of the world. another start of that phased plan has now been delayed to the end of february and of course it will affect the travel plans for many families here in australia. remember, this is the end of the school year, the start of the school holidays and many families would have been waiting forjanuary 17 to reunite with loved ones. of course this was going to be the start of new zealand opening up to the rest of the world. we heard from the covid 19, covid 19 response minister chris hipkins who acknowledged the disappointment for the families but also said that the omicron variant is transmissible as it is and it throws cu rveballs