Wellington, Dec 17 (IANS): New Zealand and the South Pacific island-nation of Niue, which has remained coronavirus free till date, on Thursday announced steps to facilitate quarantine-free travel the countries.

"Niue has successfully remained Covid-19 free throughout 2020, and this next step is a testament to all of our hard work to protect ourselves and the Pacific," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday after her discussion with his Niue counterpart Dalton Tagelagi.

"We welcome progress towards the recommencement of two-way travel between Niue and New Zealand," said Premier Tagelagi.

The arrangement outlines the health and border requirements for each country to meet in order to recommence quarantine-free travel, and annexes provide further detail on the implementation, including border and travel protocols, said a New Zealand government statement.

In recognition of Niue's Covid-19 free status, Ardern and Tagelagi have also agreed that officials will progress discussions to enable one-way quarantine-free travel from Niue to New Zealand, to enable improved access for essential travel and to support Niue's economic recovery.

Both countries will now develop in further detail the measures needed to safely recommence both one and two-way quarantine-free travel, the statement said.