Hipkins in damage control over MIQ halt

Covid-19 response minister Chris Hipkins. (Image: Getty)

Wed, 19 Jan 2022

The government is in political damage control mode following a low-key announcement suspending MIQ ballots that has been widely reported as a sudden decision to close New Zealand’s borders again.The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) issued notification through its website just before 8pm last night, that it was suspending the Jan 20 ballot for managed isolation and quarantine rooms due “to the unprecedented number of omicron cases coming into New Zealand”. The notification spread on social media overn...

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