COVID-19 vaccines go to waste as rollout stalls

Visitors to New Caledonia and French Polynesia will no longer be subjected to Covid-19 pre-departure testing.

Passengers flying from New Zealand to Noumea will no longer be required to show proof of a negative covid test to board a plane.

To qualify, travellers must be vaccinated and come from a 'green' or 'orange' risk country. All visitors must still obtain a RAT within 48 hours of entering the country. With a plane ticket or other proof of travel, these can be obtained for free from pharmacies.

This month, the French overseas territory resumed air links, with the first Aircalin flight landing in New Zealand on May 8. Air New Zealand will resume service to Noumea in July.

Tahiti has also eliminated pre-departure screening for inbound visitors from the United States, New Caledonia, and New Zealand. Vaccinated tourists will no longer be required to show the results of a Covid-19 test prior to travel as of May 18.

Unvaccinated visitors from low-risk countries will also be permitted to enter French Polynesia without a declaration of "compelling reasons." Unvaccinated tourists over the age of 12 must still provide a negative RT-PCR result from less than 72 hours before travel.

Air Tahiti Nui resumed flights from Papeete to Auckland this month and will increase the frequency to three times per week in July, when Air New Zealand also resumes Tahiti routes.

Passengers must still fill out a "Attestation sur l'honneur" form with traveller information before flying to New Caledonia.

New Caledonia is currently not on the list of Pacific Islands exempt from Covid-19 testing, and visitors to New Zealand must still undergo pre-departure tests.

The New Zealand government has announced that pre-departure testing will be phased out by August. Before departing, travellers should seek official advice.