On Monday, New Zealand announced it had decided to open borders with Australia at the beginning of next year.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern decided that a travel bubble would be formed with Australia early next year.

"A travel bubble with Australia can be expected in the first quarter of 2021 pending confirmation from the Australian Cabinet and no significant change in the circumstances in either country," said  Ardern.

She added that in the new year date will be declared for a Trans Tasman quarantine-free travel bubble.

It added, however, that in the case of a community outbreak with ample room for possible returnees when frontiers are shut again there will need to be specific plans.

In the meantime, Australia accepted the declaration as the "second half of the equation" The Australian Government welcomed the announement of New Zealand and said Australian health minister Greg Hunt that the federal government would "absolutely" approve of the agreement.

"We consciously opened up Australia to people coming from NZ because their case numbers were negligible and we knew there would come a time when our case numbers would give them confidence," Hunt said. It is the first step on a return to international normality, he added.

In October, Australia opened its borders and allowed quarantine-free travel from New Zealand following eased restrictions against the novel coronavirus.