New Zealand has extended its suspension of quarantine-free travel from Australia, raising doubts on the future of the trans-Tasman bubble.
On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson announced New Zealand would next review the trans-Tasman bubble's viability in mid-November.
Mr Robertson said the infectious nature of the Delta variant, present in uncontained outbreaks in NSW and Victoria, led to the decision.
"Decisions we make about everything COVID are led by a health response," Mr Robertson said.
"We are pushing out for another eight weeks and will re-assess."
The trans-Tasman bubble was established in April when New Zealand opened its border to travellers from Australia, some six months after Australian did so.
COVID-19 outbreaks in various Australian states led NZ to pause the travel corridor several times.
In mid-July, Jacinda Ardern announced an eight-week severing of the link as the NSW outbreak grew.
It will stay on hold for another eight weeks and be reviewed in mid-November, just prior to Christmas.
Ms Ardern's government will now work with national carrier Air New Zealand to provide flights from Australia to Aotearoa over the next two months.
Those travellers will be required to spend two weeks in quarantine.
