New Zealand suspends travel bubble with Australia

New Zealand has dumped the travel bubble with Australia for at least eight weeks with most Australian states in lockdown because of the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the suspension after a cabinet meeting on Friday morning.

However, there will be managed flights over the next seven days to get New Zealanders home with those outside Victoria and NSW able to come home without quarantine.

Ms Ardern said that her ''strong message to every New Zealander in Australia right now who does not want to stay there long term is - come home.”

The travel bubble which started in April has been a great success with more than 300,000 passengers taking advantage of the quarantine-free travel.