By 1News
New Zealand's border will fully reopen from July 31 at 11.59pm.
It has been brought forward from October, and includes all non-visa waiver countries.
On Wednesday afternoon Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, "the international border will reopen to all tourists and visa holders two months earlier than planned on 31 July".
"This will be welcome news for families, businesses and our migrant communities. It also provides certainty and good preparation time for airlines and cruise ship companies planning a return to New Zealand in the peak spring and summer seasons.
"We know a major constraint on business is access to skilled labour. This plan will increase the available pool of labour, while also speeding up our tourism recovery."
The possibility of the full border reopening earlier than initially signalled is something the Government had said was a possibility.
People from visa-waiver countries can already travel to New Zealand.
More stories:
The world's biggest fish is dying because ships are crashing into it
Scientists tracked 348 whale sharks that had been satellite tagged.
Covid Update May 11: 28 deaths, 7,970 community cases
Today’s seven-day rolling average of community case numbers is 7,420 – last Wednesday it was 7,746.
Stopping sexual and family violence: Here's the government's plan
The government is spending $114.5m over four years to help prevent family and sexual violence.