2000 MIQ rooms empty each day as NZers struggle to secure a place
2000 MIQ rooms empty each day as NZers struggle to secure a place Saturday, July 3, 2021 Katie Todd, RNZ
Almost 2000 managed isolation rooms sit empty each day, while New Zealanders trying to get home say they are struggling with an ongoing lack of vouchers.
Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has been releasing vouchers in batches, but high demand has seen them snapped up in minutes, with no rooms showing as available for the next four months.
Meanwhile the number of rooms intentionally left empty as contingency increased from 400 to 900 at the opening of the trans-Tasman bubble, while about 200 are unavailable because of hotel maintenance at the Grand Mercure and Grand Millennium.
Almost 2000 MIQ rooms empty as Kiwis struggle to secure places tvnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tvnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
“Everything is booked up until November.” She said given her occupation, she was surprised she was declined an MIQ booking more than 14 days before her travel date. Williams said she thought it “very strange” that there had been many options in MIQ two weeks ago, then suddenly everything was unavailable until November. “I think New Zealand needs to be aware that New Zealanders coming back with essential skills are struggling to in fact come back home and serve the nation in this hour of need. I think that needs to be looked at.” Enquiries to MIQelicited very generic answers, she said.
As seafarers, we ve been thrown overboard by the NZ Government stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Seasonal migrant workers into New Zealand to increase - Ardern Tuesday, May 11, 2021 RNZ
About 2400 more migrant workers will be allowed into New Zealand for seasonal horticultural work, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.
Thousands of spaces in managed isolation and quarantine facilities will be freed up over the next 10 months, many of which will be made available for skilled and critical workers.
Ardern announced 500 rooms in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) would be set aside every fortnight for certain groups.
About 300 RSE workers every month from June - with a total of 2400 arriving by March 2022
300 specialised construction workers between June and October