A screenshot of the new MIQ booking system, launched this morning. Photo: Jonathan BrewerFrustration is boiling over as New Zealanders abroad desperate to get home for Christmas wait in a queue of more than 22,000 others, mere moments after the new managed isolation (MIQ) booking system launched this morning. The "virtual lobby" system opened at 8am for people to book from around 3000 new room releases in MIQ across September, October, November and December. Wellington telco engineer Jonathan Brewer, who has been stuck in Singapore for months trying to book an MIQ room, told The New Zealand Herald: "This system is designed for selling concert tickets, not for helping people get home. Further room release will be announced at least 24 to 48 hours in advance so people will know when to come back, the MIQ website states.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 19, 2021 23:03 UTC