National Party leader Judith Collins has ramped up the calls for a transtasman bubble, saying if the Prime Minister continued to drag her heels she would "end up with the death of Queenstown on her". Ardern has highlighted the risk that New Zealanders could end up "stranded" in Australia, or having to do isolation upon their return. WHAT ABOUT THE COOK ISLANDS? There are hopes a two-way bubble with the Cook Islands could become a reality soon after Ardern announced Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown will visit New Zealand next week. However, the Government is yet to give approval for New Zealanders (other than Cook Islands citizens and residents) to travel to the Cook Islands.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 15, 2021 21:03 UTC