Lift the dark shadow of MIQ

Alexandra Birt writes:

There is no denying that MIQ was an integral part of keeping COVID-19 largely out of New Zealand, and that it has saved many lives. There is also no denying that MIQ was always going to require sacrifice, most notably from those separated from family.

In return for that sacrifice, though, Grounded Kiwis expected the system to be fair. They expected it to be proportionate. They expected that in an emergency, their government would have their back.

A fair system would prioritise pregnant women over British DJs. A fair system would prioritise people with dying relatives over sports teams.

Grounded Kiwis receives daily messages daily from individuals who have been declined, and are desperate for support. Not all of these stranded Kiwis are pregnant in Afghanistan, but plenty have funerals to attend, serious mental health impacts, children due to start school this week, ageing whānau to care for, mortgages they are struggling to pay, jobs they are waiting to start, partners they are separated from, or pensions they’re about to lose.

If someone had described this to Kiwis in 2019, we never would have believed that New Zealand, which prides itself on kindness and compassion, would implement such a brutal system. Yet it has, and many Kiwis have simply turned a blind eye because it doesn’t affect them, or worse, have decided the best response is to lash out on social media against their fellow Kiwis, even against the most vulnerable.

It is brutal, and it has exposed the nasty side of many New Zealanders.

Charlotte’s story has helped to bring New Zealand’s border policy to the attention of the world. The Guardian, ABC News, Washington Post, and BBC, among others, have picked up the story. We can only hope that this international pressure will hasten the re-opening of our border. Even if self-isolation on arrival is introduced, New Zealand will still have some of the most stringent border settings in the OECD.

It’s simple. If you are a New Zealand citizen and you have been fully vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19 just prior to departure, you should be able to come home and self-isolate. If it was good for James Shaw, it is good enough for all New Zealanders.