New Zealand welcomes international visitors after two years with Maori songs and tearful embraces

New Zealand is now allowing vaccinated visitors from 60 countries, and says they won’t have to isolate as long as they test negative on arrival. Namita Singh reports

Families embrace after a flight from Los Angeles arrived at Auckland International Airport, as New Zealand’s border opened for visa-waiver countries Monday, 2 May 2022 (AP)

On Monday New Zealand welcomed thousands of international tourists from around the world as it opened its borders to visitors for the first time since the pandemic started.

The international arrivals in Auckland were greeted with Maori songs and dancing, and handed popular local chocolate bars, as the first flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco landed in the city.

Heartwarming scenes played out at the airport’s arrivals gate as travellers were reunited with their loved ones after two years of separation. Among them were Garth and Chris Halliday, who were in tears when they met their son Stephen, his wife and their grandson after a year and a half.