New Zealand’s MIQ system has been found ‘unreasonable’ yet still broadly justified. And just like the decisions that drove the COVID response, any apology will be more about politics than the law.
Taking MIQ to court was meant to be something of a reckoning for New Zealand’s contentious border control policy. In the end it may be only a footnote to the bigger story.
The challenges of containing inevitable outbreaks once borders reopen should not be underestimated. That’s why elimination remains the guiding principle and mass vaccination the imperative.
Michael Plank, University of Canterbury dan Shaun Hendy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
New Zealand and Australia both had COVID-19 outbreaks originating from border facilities, but as frontline border workers are prioritised for vaccination, the risk of this happening again is lower.
Michael Plank, University of Canterbury; Shaun Hendy, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau, dan Siouxsie Wiles, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
The highly infectious nature of the COVID-19 variant, and the fact the infections have no clear link to the border, leaves the worrying possibility of a more widespread community outbreak.
Despite the latest tweaks to border testing rules, the risk of imported infection remains very high. NZ’s wider response needs upgrading —including reducing the large numbers of infected returnees.