That's according to Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, who confirmed a receipt date for the Pfizer biotech vaccine.

I have good news this morning.

I can confirm that New Zealand's first batch of the fighter Byron tick over 19 vaccine the set to arrive in New Zealand next week while within our schedule time frame and he'd off previous expectations.

That means we should be in a position all things going to plan to start vaccinating our border workers from next Saturday, the 20th of February.

Arden added that some 12,000 border workers and their families will receive the vaccine first, followed by at risk groups of healthcare workers, elderly and those with medical conditions.

Her announcement comes amid pressure to start inoculating the country's five million people as New Zealand is one of the few countries that has virtually eliminated the virus.

Neighboring Australia has also formally approved the Pfizer biotech vaccine.

Leaders say they expect to start inoculations by the end of this month without giving a specific date.

Australia and New Zealand had hoped to open a travel bubble between the two countries by the end of March.

Fresh outbreaks in Australia have stalled those plans.

Our turn said border restrictions could be eased if there was evidence that vaccines reduce transmission.