Will Aucklanders be welcomed with open arms when they can travel?

The Government has committed to letting Aucklanders travel at Christmas, Stuff reports. But while holiday hotspots are keen to accept Aucklander visitors back, some may remain hesitant about the risks. The mixed views can be easy to understand in Northland, which has one of New Zealand’s lowest rates of Covid-19 vaccinations, and high health needs. One lodge owner in Paihia is still working out if she will need to charge un-vaxxed guests extra for deep-cleaning. Meanwhile, Queenstown Lakes mayor Jim Boult says Aucklanders will be welcome in his district: “Because we’re a district that’s highly dependent on the visitor industry, we’ve been very proactive in getting ourselves vaccinated.”