WELLINGTON, New Zealand--The New Zealand government said it expects that quarantine-free travel with Australia's Victoria state will resume on June 23 as health risks from that region's recent Covid-19 outbreak have decreased.

Australia and New Zealand, which have both contained the pandemic, opened quarantine-free travel in April, but the arrangement was suspended for Victoria state after an increase in Covid-19 cases.

A New Zealand government statement on Thursday said it is unlikely that widespread community tranmission of Covid-19 in Victoria is continuing.

The relaxation of travel restrictions between Australia and New Zealand has allowed families seperated by the pandemic to reunite. It also has been a boost for companies such as Auckland International Airport Ltd. and Air New Zealand though their business remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

Write to Stephen Wright at stephen.wright@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

06-16-21 2002ET