Seafarers are finding they are caught in a snag when it comes to booking space in the managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities and want change. They are subject to the Managed Isolation Allocation System like the vast majority of people coming across New Zealand's borders. The pair wants a set allocation in managed isolation for seafarers and feels like no one is advocating for them. They also point out New Zealand had signed onto the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) protocol, which designates seafarers as essential workers. Instead, he had made an agreement with his employer to work about six-and-a-half months because of the pandemic.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 07, 2021 19:52 UTC