New Zealand has delayed plans to reopen its border due to concerns over the Omicron variant.
It had begun easing some of its strict pandemic measures and further steps were planned from early next year.
However, the country's COVID response minister has confirmed steps planned for January 16th have been put back until the end of February.
Chris Hipkins said: “To slow the rapid spread we have seen overseas, we are pushing out the start of non-[managed isolation and quarantine] travel until the end of February 2022.
“There’s no doubt this is disappointing and will upset many holiday plans, but it’s important to set these changes out clearly today so they can have time to consider those plans.
“COVID-19 keeps throwing new curve balls and we have to respond in a way that continues to protect lives and livelihoods without putting in place restrictions and lockdowns unless absolutely necessary."
The New Zealand government has also increased the length of hotel quarantine from a week to 10 days, and shortened the pre-departure test requirement for entry from 72 to 48 hours before travel.
Mandatory quarantine is still in place in New Zealand, and under the new measures anyone arriving in the country must spend a full ten days in official isolation facilities such as hotels.
So far, around two dozen cases of Omicron have been detected in quarantine facilities in New Zealand - with no cases yet detected in the commmunity.
It's less than a month since New Zealand announced plans to reopen its borders.
The phased process would first see fully vaccinated New Zealanders able to return home without mandatory hotel quarantine - initially from Australia from January, and then extending to other countries from mid-February.
A phased reopening for fully vaccinated foreign tourists is then set to get underway from April 30th.
However, all arrivals will still need to self-isolate for a week after arrival and take several COVID tests.
