A quarantine-free travel bubble between Aotearoa and Niue is finally open, after more than two years without tourists.
Sasha Top and Stephen Tetai at Auckland International Airport Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Sasha Top and Stephen Tetai were on the first quarantine-free flight on Tuesday 28 June.
They are part Niuean, going over to connect with their roots.
"We just want to see where our family comes from and both our grandfathers' were born there and we've never been," Top said.
They are going to do some tourism activities too and celebrate Sasha's 40th Birthday.
"Then I am 39 for one extra day when I get to Niue," she said.
Sifa Togiataue and her son checking in at Auckland International Airport Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
For Sifa Togiataue and her son, the flight has been a long time coming.
"Our trip today is for our nana, my son's nana who passed away last year...so we are going up there to unveil the headstone," Togiataue said.
Vaiolama Feau is going back to see her nana and sister.
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She hasn't seen them since before the pandemic, around three years ago.
"So it's exciting, it means a lot, I think we took for granted how easy it was to fly back and forth in previous years. I think we are pretty lucky to be on this flight now actually," Feau said.
Vaiolama Feau is travelling with her Mum Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Despite quarantine being scrapped, she is pleased Covid-19 measures remain in place.
Travellers must be fully vaccinated, have a negative PCR test within 48 hours of leaving New Zealand, and get tested on days one and three after touching down in Niue.
The Mougavalu and Pulehetoa families kissed their 13-month-old baby Harlin Mougavalu-Pulehetoa good-bye. Mum Anzee Mougavalu and her partner Semo Pulehetoa brought him over for health reasons Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Local businessman Robert BJ Rex said his family businesses suffered while the borders were shut, but the domestic market kept them afloat.
"What it will mean for the economy and the industry tourism-wise, it will mean a lot, after being in hibernation for the last two or so years," Rex said.
Robert BJ Rex on his way back to Niue after a business trip to New Zealand Photo: RNZ Pacific/Lydia Lewis
Flights to Niue are only available through New Zealand, the Niue government said.
Travelers wanting to visit Niue from outside of New Zealand must meet the border entry requirements for both New Zealand and Niue.
"The borders opening is one step forward to getting back to normality and people traveling back to Niue," Rex said.
For now, there will be just one flight a week, not quite the same as pre-Covid times but it will give tourism operators to gradually scale back up.
So far, the country has managed to avoid community transmission, with just a handful of cases recorded at the border from incoming flights from New Zealand.