New Zealand has announced that starting in November, foreign nationals will be required to have a coronavirus vaccination to enter the country.

From November 1, all foreign nationals arriving in New Zealand will need to be fully vaccinated, as declared by the government on Sunday.

Travelers must declare their vaccination status when registering with New Zealand's isolation system and provide proof of vaccination or exemption to both their airline and customs officers upon arrival, according to Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins' statement.

Chris Hipkins explained that in order to minimize the risk of the virus entering through the border, air travelers aged 17 and older who are not New Zealand citizens will be required to be fully vaccinated to enter the country.

The announcement coincided with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern placing a new area outside Auckland under a five-day lockdown as the Delta variant of Covid-19 continues to spread throughout the country.

Travelers arriving in New Zealand will still be required to undergo a 14-day quarantine, and all travelers, except those from exempt regions, must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of their first international flight.

Chris Hipkins mentioned that while most travelers to New Zealand report being vaccinated already, this new requirement formalizes the process and adds an additional layer of border protection.

Air New Zealand, the country's national airline, also announced on Sunday that starting in February 2022, all passengers on international flights will be required to be vaccinated.

Any Covid-19 vaccine approved by a recognized government or regulatory authority is acceptable, with the condition that the final dose is administered at least 14 days before arrival.

On Sunday, New Zealand reported 33 new local Covid-19 cases, including 32 in Auckland and one in the Waikato region, according to Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield during a press briefing.

Prime Minister Ardern announced that parts of the Waikato region, including Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Huntly, Ngāruawāhia, and Hamilton City, will be placed under a Level 3 lockdown from 11:59 p.m. Sunday local time for the next five days.

Under Level 3 restrictions, the government encourages remote work and learning where possible, mandates the closure of public facilities, bans events, and imposes travel restrictions, according to the official Covid-19 website.

Bloomfield also confirmed another Covid-19 case in the Waikato region on Sunday, which will be included in the following day's official count.

The two cases in Waikato are reportedly 'known associates or contacts,' though health officials have yet to establish a direct link to the Auckland outbreak, according to Bloomfield.

Auckland remains under a Level 3 lockdown, and Prime Minister Ardern stated that officials will meet on Monday to discuss potential plans to ease restrictions in the city.

Prime Minister Ardern stated, 'We are doing everything we can to keep cases contained within Auckland and manage them there.' She also urged unvaccinated New Zealanders to get their vaccinations, emphasizing that higher vaccination rates would lead to fewer restrictions.

Sunday's newly reported local cases bring the total number of community cases in the current outbreak to 1,328, as reported by New Zealand’s health ministry.

According to the health ministry, over 3 million New Zealanders, or 79% of the population, have received their first Covid-19 vaccine dose, with nearly 2 million fully vaccinated after receiving both doses.

In mid-August, the country imposed a strict three-day lockdown after a locally transmitted Covid-19 case was confirmed, marking the first instance since February.

The rest of New Zealand is currently at Alert Level 2, indicating a low risk of community transmission, which has allowed most restrictions to be eased, though limits on gathering sizes remain in effect.