New Zealand plans to start reopening borders early next year

New Zealand plans to begin a cautious reopening of its borders to international travelers early next year

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- New Zealand, which has completely stamped out the coronavirus, plans to cautiously reopen its borders to international travelers early next year, the government said Thursday. Officials also said they would delay second shots of the Pfizer vaccine in order to speed up first shots to protect more people as the threat of the delta variant grows. New Zealand's success in erasing the coronavirus has allowed life to return almost to normal. The South Pacific nation of 5 million people has reported just 26 deaths since the pandemic began. That's been achieved in part by closing borders to those who aren't residents or citizens.