New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said her government will explore more travel “bubbles” and lead trade delegations later this year to reconnect with a post-pandemic world after more than a year of border closures.

Ardern said New Zealand started rebuilding contact by opening quarantine-free travel with neighbouring Australia and the South Pacific's Cook Islands, and is considering more such travel bubble options.

“Niue is the natural next addition. Beyond that we are relatively open-minded, and I do anticipate there will be other countries we can explore opportunities with,” Ardern said in her pre-budget speech in Auckland.