Efforts to Make Securing MIQ Allocation Easier

Peter Russell made this Official Information request to Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

The request was partially successful.

From: Peter Russell

Dear Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment,

Context of the Following Questions:

I have been desperately trying to secure a Managed Isolation and Quarantine place for my 17 year old daughter (a NZ citizen) who wishes to return to New Zealand from Scotland. Her mother and I have been taking turns trying to secure MIQ allocation for her on any date available. After about a thousand attempts at refreshing the relevant webpage we have been unsuccessful. On the rare event that a date appears to be available, selecting it and hitting the "next" button has always failed - presumably because someone else selected the date a fraction of a second earlier.

According to a Facebook group with 5,500 members "MIQ: NZ Managed Isolation and Quarantine" this is a common experience for many people, including some who have refreshed the page thousands of times in one day. I note that MBIE has acknolwedged people have been securing multiple MIQ places (presumably using fake identities and perhaps using software to automate and/or speed up the process) in order to on-sell them, thereby making it extra difficult for legitimate travellers to secure MIQ places themselves.

This entire situation is demoralising, insulting and completely unacceptable.

Questions:

1. What is MBIE doing to prevent people securing MIQ allocation (including multiple MIQ places) and selling them to legitimate travellers?

2. Is there any intention of making this practices unlawful?

3. If so, please provide details. If not, why not?

4. Has MBIE assessed the number of people wishing to enter New Zealand during part or all of the remainder of 2021?

5. If so, please provide details. If not, why not?

6. What is the quantity of MIQ places available at any point in time based upon, i.e. what is the limiting factor?

7. Is there any intention of making it easier for legitimate travellers to secure MIQ allocation?

8. If so, please provide details. If not, why not?

Yours faithfully,

Peter Russell

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From: Ministerial Services
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Ref: 2122-0168

Dear Peter,

On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 23 July 2021 requesting under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act), the following:

“1. What is MBIE doing to prevent people securing MIQ allocation
(including multiple MIQ places) and selling them to legitimate travellers?

 

2. Is there any intention of making this practices unlawful?

 

3. If so, please provide details.  If not, why not?

 

4. Has MBIE assessed the number of people wishing to enter New Zealand
during part or all of the remainder of 2021?

 

5. If so, please provide details.  If not, why not?

 

6. What is the quantity of MIQ places available at any point in time based
upon, i.e. what is the limiting factor?

 

7. Is there any intention of making it easier for legitimate travellers to
secure MIQ allocation?

 

8.  If so, please provide details.  If not, why not?”

Your request is being processed in accordance with the Act and a response
will be sent to you in due course.

If you have any enquiries regarding your request, or its urgency, feel
free to contact us via email at [1][MBIE request email].

Nâku noa, nâ

MINISTERIAL SERVICES

Corporate, Governance and Information

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

Level 4, 15 Stout Street, PO Box 1473, Wellington 6140

NZBN 9429000106078

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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1. mailto:[MBIE request email]
mailto:[MBIE request email]
2. http://www.govt.nz/

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From: *OIA
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment


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Attachment DOIA 2122 0168 signed response.pdf
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Kia ora

 

Please find attached the report to your OIA request of 23 July 2021.

 

We apologise that your response is a few days late.  You will understand
that, when the national lockdown was announced, this caused delays for
some pieces of work as immediate priorities within MIQ shifted in reaction
to the announcement. We thank you for your patience and understanding at
this time.

 

 

Ngâ mihi

Rebecca

 

Senior Ministerial Advisor – MIQ

Please note I do not work Thursdays

Office of the Deputy Secretary

Managed Isolation and Quarantine

 

[1]MIQ email sig lockup

 

[2]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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2. http://www.govt.nz/

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