Border opening: Waikato 'grey nomads' get best news after months stuck in Australia

After months stuck in Perth – and repeated struggles with the MIQ site – a Waikato couple are “extremely excited” they can soon head home.

The Government announced on Thursday that New Zealand citizens in Australia will be able to skip MIQ and enter New Zealand from 11.59pm on Sunday, February 27.

This will be the first of five stages of gradual border reopening, with Kiwis in other parts of the world to be let in two weeks later.

Brian and Patricia Oldham already had flights booked for March 2, and say they are now counting down the days until they get back on Kiwi soil.

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“This is the best news I’ve had in months,” Brian told Stuff.

The 80-year-old and his wife Patricia, 78, only originally planned to stay in Australia for four months to meet their latest great-grandchild, and to celebrate two big family birthdays – Brian’s 80th birthday, and their grandson's 30th.

They had booked the tickets “well before Covid was a thing”, Brian said, and like many thought the outbreak was coming to an end.

However, just three days after they landed in Australia, New Zealand went into lockdown when the first Delta case emerged in August.

Brian said the couple tried several times to book an MIQ slot, but “never won the MIQ lottery”.

Having been diagnosed with COPD, a form of lung disease, he said they looked at applying for an exemption on health grounds but couldn't work out how – even with his son’s help.

“We are fortunate that we didn’t have to pay for accommodation, staying at our son’s, and are financially stable, but we’ve still lost a lot of money.

“I reckon we've spent more than $10,000 since arriving here in July.”

He said their slice of paradise in Waingaro, 20km from Raglan, has been dearly missed.

“While it’s been great seeing family, I haven’t been able to do too much here because of my health.

“There’s so many restrictions and the eastern seaboard is reaching 15,000 cases a day. I’m certainly not mingling with anyone with my buggered lungs.”

Coining himself as the “grey nomad” living in a caravan on a friend's property in Waingaro, Brian said it’s the simple things he misses - like enjoying country music as he tends to the garden.

“Home is home.”

Once the borders open, returning Kiwis will have to be vaccinated and self-isolate for 10 days, but won’t need a space in a Government-run managed isolation facility (MIQ).

They will be given three rapid antigen tests on arrival: one for the first day and the second on day five or six, with one extra for backup.

“If a positive result is returned at any point, returnees will be asked to get a follow-up PCR test at a community testing station,” Ardern said.

“That will help us to monitor any possible variants that may emerge. It will also help us assess when it’s safe to lift self-isolation requirements.”

New Zealanders in Australia will be the first allowed in.

From March 13, New Zealanders in other parts of the world will be able to return under similar conditions, alongside some critical workers, and their families.

Ardern said the February and March dates were very firm, and that there was “no intention” of changing them.