Probe into MIQ shutouts of desperate mums trying to return to NZ

The Government is looking into how emergency MIQ spots were allocated during our harshest Covid restrictions — including how we treated pregnant Kiwi women desperate to give birth at home.

Documents obtained by Newstalk ZB via the Official Information Act reveal conversations were had as early as April 2020 on how to deal with pregnancy-related applications, but nothing was done.

On April 5, 2020, the head of MIQ,

Chris Bunny, received an update on how pregnancy was managed in other jurisdictions.

After asking for this information, he was advised other countries, including Australia, didn’t have any pregnancy-related policies.

In late October 2021, MIQ investigated how to consider applications relating to pregnancy within emergency allocations.

Options either involved sticking with the status quo, but with consideration of the unborn child added into operational guidance for decision-makers, “tweaking” existing categories to make specific reference to prenatal care/pregnancy, or introducing a new category altogether.

It was decided to not make any changes.

Instead, it was agreed that decision-makers would include consideration of the unborn child when assessing and making decisions where pregnancy is part of the emergency application. Between May 26 and October 18, 2021, there were 250 pregnancy-related emergency MIQ applications received.

108 were considered by MBIE decision-makers, with 32 approved and 76 declined.

142 were not progressed to the decision-making stage.

There was no correspondence between the Prime Minister’s Office and MBIE regarding women applying for emergency MIQ spots during this time.

Of the applications, six were declined while caught in the suspension of travel to and from Australia.

Where the application was based on the mother being at risk due to serious health issues, six were approved and 12 declined. Where the baby’s health was at risk, one was approved and two declined.

Three applications were declined where the partner was in New Zealand but the expectant mother was in another country with no other care options.

MBIE is currently working through a process to capture what it learned in how MIQ operated and is putting together advice for the MBIE MIQ leadership team and ministers.