Change coming to MIQ booking system

Travellers to New Zealand will soon be able to book managed isolation stays six months in advance. The two-week stay in hotel accommodation has been compulsory for more than a year. So far, managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) vouchers have only been available three to four months in advance. But an Official Information Act response shows MIQ will move to a six-month booking window in coming weeks. In the documents, MIQ general manager Christina Sophocleous-Jones said unreliable flight information had hindered the voucher system, so her team had been seeking accurate flight data. ‘‘The Ministry [of Business, Innovation and Employment] will look to move to a six-month booking horizon in coming weeks, once flight schedules for the northern summer are confirmed.’’ BusinessNZ immigration manager Rachel Simpson said the booking changes would make it easier for employers to bring in critical workers.