NZ could move to level 1 next week.

[harm_less]

Even when all the borders are open again do you think that tourism will ever get back to being the major export earner for New Zealand it has been in recent years?

I have my doubts.

I think it will given enough time, will probably take a good 24 months.
Likely airlines will give good deals and the tourism industry that has been ripping Kiwis off due to getting away with exorbitant fees from tourists will have to adapt and offer better deals to bring back business.

IATA are predicting a five year wait for air travel to get back to normal and the price of international travel is likely to be much higher that pre-COVID levels as airlines move to regain the substantial costs they have suffered in the moth-balling and recommissioning of their fleets. There will also be fewer airlines operating so competition will be limited. https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programme...years-iata

The days of flying across the world for a couple of thousand dollars are now history IMO and tourism will be a very different beast when/if it restarts.