Vanloads of deportees arrive in NZ

AUCKLAND: Four vanloads of New Zealander controversially deported from Australia arrived at their downtown boutique hotel in Auckland yesterday.

It is understood New Zealanders deported from Australia will be in managed isolation at the Ramada by Wyndham hotel in downtown Federal St for the required 14day quarantine period.

The deportees were seen arriving at the central Auckland hotel and were escorted into the hotel by police.

Many carried backpacks and duffel bags as luggage. Only a few were wearing masks.

Police were stationed outside the hotel and security was heavily increased once the first van arrived.

A man who lives two doors away but did not want to be identified was concerned about the new arrivals and said they should be kept at a New Zealand Defence Force base.

Police and security guards could be seen outside the hotel and walking around inside yesterday.

Hotel staff declined to comment and directed queries to the All of Government Response Group.

Health Minister Chris Hipkins confirmed the deportees had arrived in New Zealand.

He has refused to divulge where they would stay, amid concerns it could be a ‘‘magnet for attention’’.

Mr Hipkins said the group were cooperative as they entered New Zealand and managed isolation.

The Ramada Suites by Wyndham Auckland is described as ‘‘42apartment, boutiquestyle hotel’’. It is in the heart of Auckland’s CBD and a 400m walk from Auckland’s Sky Tower and SkyCity Casino.

There was one new case of Covid19 in New Zealand yesterday, the Ministry of Health said.

She was a woman in her 60s who arrived in New Zealand on June 30 from Pakistan, via Doha and Sydney.

She has been in managed isolation at the Novotel in Christchurch. — The New Zealand Herald