Auckland Airport's outgoing CEO Adrian Littlewood declares New Zealand needs to open up now

In his last week in Auckland Airport's top job, Adrian Littlewood told The AM Show there is no longer any logic in forcing fully vaccinated New Zealanders with pre-departure testing into quarantine facilities as the science doesn't support it. He called on the Government to decide on the matter now, giving the aviation industry time to prepare amid the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Government has stated that vaccinations are our ticket to an unrestricted summer holiday, yet fully vaccinated and tested Kiwis remain stuck offshore, kept apart from family and friends over Christmas," Littlewood said. "Some of our most prominent scientific experts have come out and said this week that the risk they present is low and better use could be made of our scarce MIQ facilities. And we've also seen Air New Zealand announce new domestic safety protections this week, meaning only fully vaccinated or COVID-19-negative people will be able to fly from mid-December. "The time has come for the grief and inequity caused by these restrictions to end, allowing Kiwis to return, reunite with their families and isolate at home if they are fully vaccinated with pre-departure testing. The Government needs to make this a priority now."<br/>