Aotearoa New Zealand is currently at Covid Alert Level 1 (as of June 8) and Fulbright New Zealand staff have returned to work in the office and are no longer working remotely. Fulbright New Zealand is committed to providing up-to-date information for our Fulbright whanau about the impact of COVID-19.
Q: I am a NZ citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright award for next year. Will the various Fulbright awards still be on offer?
A: Currently (28 May) all of our NZ awards are still on offer apart from two that have been temporarily suspended. They are: the Harkness Fellowship and the Fulbright Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer’s Residency. While it is hard to predict when New Zealand’s borders will re-open, you are still able to apply for a Fulbright award.
Q: I am a US citizen interested in applying for a Fulbright NZ award. Is Fulbright NZ still accepting applications?
A: Yes, US citizens can still apply for Fulbright awards to be undertaken in NZ, however the Axford Award in Public Policy and the Fulbright Specialist Awards have been temporarily suspended. While it is hard to predict when New Zealand’s borders will be re-opened, you are still able to apply for a Fulbright award. For more information on the various awards we offer, please click here.
Q: When will Fulbright be running normally?
A: Fulbright NZ is still operating and are accepting applications as per usual. If you have any questions about applying for a Fulbright, feel free to contact one of our Programme Managers. Click here for staff contacts.
Thursday 2 April, 2020
If you are a Fulbright US grantee currently in New Zealand but are thinking about returning to the US
The New Zealand government announced today that domestic air travel for repatriation purposes is now allowed. There are several criteria that foreign nationals must meet in order to drive or take land transport to an international airport, or take a domestic flight within New Zealand while we are under Alert Level 4:
And you must meet the following public health criteria, and will be questioned before travelling:
If you meet these criteria you can make a domestic flight booking, or drive or take private or public land transport to connect to your international flight.
Information on acceptable travel options to the airport
Any foreign national who does not meet those criteria should continue to shelter in place in their current location.
If you fail to meet these criteria you will not be able to take your international flight and may have to go into quarantine or managed self-isolation.
Foreign nationals who require more information or support should contact their country’s embassy or consulate. Chartered flights will be organised and ticketed through foreign missions.
Thursday 26 March, 2020
As you will all be aware, as of Thursday 26 March 2020, New Zealand is now at Alert Level 4 of the COVID-19 alert system. This is the highest level and means that the country has temporarily suspended all non-essential services, and all people are required to stay at home for a period of four weeks. For specific details on this please read here .
If you have received a Fulbright grant and will be going to the US
As it currently stands, the Fulbright programme in the US has been temporarily suspended. Staff at Fulbright New Zealand are in daily contact with Fulbright’s governing body — the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) — and the Institute of International Education (IIE), and remain hopeful that you will still be able to take up your award. However, because this situation is in flux, we unfortunately can’t provide concrete answers right now. Please know that we understand how frustrating this situation is for you and please be assured that your Programme Manager will update you with any new information as soon as we receive it.
Monday 23 March, 2020
The Prime Minister of New Zealand announced that the country is now at Level 3 of the COVID-19 alert level system, and that as of midnight Wednesday 25 March, New Zealand will go to Level 4 of the COVID-19 level response. This is the highest level, which means the country will go into lock-down. Essential services will remain open but everything else will close. People must stay at home for the next four weeks. Please read the details here.
For US Fulbright grantees in New Zealand
The Fulbright Programme has been suspended worldwide.
The US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) now require all remaining US Fulbright participants in New Zealand to return to the US as soon as possible.
All participants who depart will receive their stipend through June 30th and will be considered Fulbright alumni. They will have the right to reapply for the program in the future.
Participants who cannot leave due to a lack of international flights, or for health reasons, or other concerns, may elect to stay in country as private citizens. They will receive all of the same benefits as those who depart, including their stipend through June 30, a return ticket, and alumni status.
What happens next?
As the number of international flights are limited, you must act soon. You can either book your travel yourself or through Margret Vaiouga at Corporate Traveller at [email protected]
If you are unable to get a flight back to the US you will need to stay in New Zealand (see above for what this means) and comply with the government’s decree.
If you remain, you will not be allowed to continue with your Fulbright work as the Fulbright Programme is suspended until further notice.
For information about visas please go to Immigration New Zealand.
The Fulbright NZ team are working around the clock to make sure we can answer all your questions and give you the information you need. We are sending you aroha and strength at this very difficult and stressful time. Thank you for your patience while we continue to get updates from ECA, IIE and IREX. We will keep you informed at every step.
Monday 16 March, 2020
Update on COVID-19
If you are a Fulbright grantee from New Zealand currently in the US
Fulbright New Zealand want to assure all our grantees that your well-being and safety are of utmost importance to us.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly developing situation, and we are receiving information at the same rate as you. However, you will be better placed to know what is happening in your US host university.
Your most important sources of information regarding your Fulbright programme are your US host university and IIE.
It is your US host university that will determine what happens to your individual programmes of study and/or research, campus accommodation, and travel.
Should you wish to return to New Zealand, IIE (as legal sponsor of your J1 visa) will be able to let you know what this means regarding your J1 visa regulations and Fulbright programme status. Please contact your IIE advisor directly with any questions or concerns you may have.
IMPORTANT: As of Sunday 15 March, the New Zealand Government has announced a nationwide requirement that all travellers coming to New Zealand must self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival.
Please read what this means and which countries this applies to here.
We understand the implications may be different for those on multi-year programmes and those on one year programmes. Again, this is for IIE to determine.
Fulbright New Zealand are aware that this may be a stressful time for many of you. We are here to help and will do our best to talk you through any of the processes listed above.
If you are a Fulbright grantee from the US currently in New Zealand
Fulbright New Zealand continues to monitor updates about COVID-19. We are aware that this may be a stressful time for many of you. Our primary concern is your health and well-being and we will do our best to keep you informed and direct you to the appropriate channels. The changing nature of this situation means that you may receive information before we do. We are here to help and appreciate you sharing any information with us regarding your host university’s response to COVID-19 and how this may affect your course of study.
For all up-to-date information about COVID-19 in New Zealand, please check the Ministry of Health website. If you have concerns for your own or a family member’s health, please call the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 helpline on free-phone: 0800 358 5453.
If you have received a Fulbright grant and will be going to the US
Fulbright New Zealand want to assure all our recent Fulbright grantees that your wellbeing and safety are of utmost importance to us. The COVID-19 pandemic is a rapidly changing situation and information around the world is being updated regularly. We are keeping well informed and want to assure you that if we are in frequent and regular contact with IIE, IREX and ECA. If we receive any information that could affect your Fulbright programme, we will contact you directly.
As it stands currently, no decisions have been made regarding the Fulbright programme for next year so please proceed as if your programme will commence as scheduled. However, as the situation is changing regularly, we recommend not booking your travel at this stage.
If you have received a Fulbright grant and will be coming to New Zealand
For specific and up-to-date information about COVID-19 in New Zealand, please check the Ministry of Health website.
It is important that you keep informed of any policies in New Zealand that may affect your travel. Please do this by checking the New Zealand Immigration website regularly. The international situation with COVID-19 is changing daily. Please ensure you stay informed. It is important to remember that in New Zealand COVID-19 has been contained to five individual cases to date (12 March, 2020). It is not currently circulating in our communities.
If you haven’t done so already, please register your details with the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (https://step.state.gov/). Once registered, you will receive travel advisory updates from the US Embassy.
IMPORTANT: As of Sunday 15 March, the New Zealand Government has announced a nationwide requirement that all travellers coming to New Zealand must self-isolate for two weeks upon arrival.
Please read what this means and which countries this applies to here.
Please ensure that you keep informed by checking the following official channels: