Aloha Trout Unlimited Members I wanted to share with you an update from Maurice in New Zealand. Most importantly, is due to New Zealand’s covid policy they will allow most fully vaccinated travelers into the country by the end of April without a mandatory hotel quarantine, as it slowly emerges from what has been one of the world’s longest lockdowns. However, they will still require a 7 day “At home” self-isolation, with pre-departure and post-arrival testing. This requirement will deter most travelers, as they have to add an additional 7 days of doing nothing.
Maurice also provided a detailed status and its travel requirement. If you need the full text, please email me at mailto:[email protected].
Deane-
The best time and most popular for fishing in NZ is February to April, especially the back country rivers especially.
It really depends on what is most important, the “fishing experience” or “fishing in NZ”? My thoughts would be to keep to the months February to April. Yes, I have been fishing June and July and at Lake Taupo/Turangi area this can be for some early spawners of rainbow trout (at river mouths) and maybe some brownies going up the Tongariro River. The main rainbow spawning month on the Tongariro is now much later – around September each year.
What would be the main attractions in NZ during that time – forget Auckland – it is just another city; Waitomo Caves with glow worms; Rotorua for hot pools and geysers (also some good fishing around Rotorua); the scenery around the National Park of the Tongariro; plenty of bush walks available. I would even suggest a week near Rotorua with a guide, and a guide for some back country rivers such as the Rangitikei River and Manganui O Ti Ao. Have a look at this website which should be helpful: https://nzfishing.com/ . Also, additional information that I have put together. https://maurice-flyfishing.wixsite.com/maurice
Currently, on 24th of November 2021, our central Government ruling Labour Party recently announced opening the borders for overseas tourists. But due to the requirements, I would suggest preparing for an overseas trip to New Zealand in 2023 during our best months of fishing (February\March\April).
New Zealand will be removing the requirement to go into managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) for most travelers in stages, but they will have to self-isolate for seven days, with pre-departure and post-arrival testing.
Here are the three steps for when travelers can enter New Zealand without entering MIQ: (Managed Isolation Quarantine).
- Step 1 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current settings from Australia from 11:59 pm on January 16, 2022 (provided they have been in Australia or New Zealand for the past 14 days).
- Step 2 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from all but Very High-Risk countries, from 11:59pm on Sunday, February 13.
- Step 3 – opening to fully vaccinated foreign nationals (possibly staged by visa category), from April 30 onwards. This requires a seven day home isolation period.
New Zealand is waiting until April to fully open to permit time for airlines to plan, he said, as well as to allow a transition to the country’s new “traffic light” pandemic management system that starts Dec. 2. That system will end lockdowns and place significant restrictions on the unvaccinated, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced at a news conference on Monday.
From December 2. 2021 we will begin the “the traffic light system”- Red, Orange and Green.
Red = Action needed to protect health system – system facing unsustainable number of hospitalisations. Action needed to protect at-risk populations.
Orange = Community transmission with pressure on health system.
Whole of health system is focusing resources but can manage – primary care, public health, and hospitals.
Increasing risk to at-risk populations.
Green = Very unlikely to reach as this would be “open”to all.
Hope this gives you guys and gals an idea what overseas anglers need to know when coming to New Zealand. In the meantime I will undertake as much research as possible by seeking newish fishing spots in your absence. All in the basis as “research” for overseas fly fishing friends.
Maurice
P.S. Our economy has already passed our pre-COVID levels; except for tourism.
