22 May 2022

Poll: Kiwis in favour of earlier reopening of the borders

From Sunday Morning, 8:25 am on 22 May 2022

Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that New Zealand's borders would fully reopen (including to cruise ships and international students) on July 31 - two months earlier than the Government initially planned.

Almost one third of respondents in a new Research New Zealand poll stated the timing 'is right' (30%), whereas 28% felt that they should have been opened already. As to why, the three key reasons were: to help with New Zealand's economic recovery (51%), getting back to normality (43%) and relieving a skills shortage (41%).

Research New Zealand Managing Partner Emanuel Kalafatelis is with us to discuss the results.

Emotional scenes at Auckland Airport after after the first fights from across the Tasman landed since the border reopening on 13 April 2022.

Emotional scenes at Auckland Airport after after the first fights from across the Tasman landed since the border reopening on 13 April 2022. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi