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.
Articles on MIQ
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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.
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.
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.
The approval of the first of four COVID-19 vaccines marks the first step in New Zealand’s plans for a Pacific-wide immunisation rollout.
Multiple borders have always existed in Aotearoa New Zealand. We just weren’t as aware of them before the pandemic started locking down communities.
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.
Top contributors
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Professor in Applied Mathematics, University of Canterbury
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Adjunct professor, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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Professor of Public Health, University of Otago
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Associate Professor in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
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Associate Professor of Law, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
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Professor of Law, University of Waikato
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Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
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Professor of Public Health, University of Otago
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Distinguished Professor, University of Otago
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Senior Lecturer in Border and Resource Security, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University