Self-Isolation Pilot

About the Self-Isolation Pilot

In August 2021, the Government endorsed an approach that would introduce low, medium and high-risk pathways for inbound travellers based on their COVID-19 risk under the ’Reconnecting New Zealanders with the World’ plan.

The Self-Isolation Pilot was an important next step in supporting the creation of new pathways which will, in future, allow more people to visit and return home to New Zealand without the requirement to enter MIQ. Running the pilot allowed us to test some aspects of operational readiness and identify areas where further work is required to scale up the approach and expand in the future.

This pilot was for a small number of travellers required to travel internationally for business purposes who returned to New Zealand and went into self-isolation on arrival in Auckland or Christchurch.

The pilot was approved for up to 150 people. Numbers and locations were limited to ensure the health workforce and MIQ systems and staff had the capacity to establish, manage and complete the pilot successfully. This limited number was spread out over the 6-week arrival period of the pilot.

The pilot was primarily aimed at travellers required to travel internationally from New Zealand for business purposes. This also includes sole traders.

The pilot allowed travel for a small number of Ministers and Officials attending overseas events as New Zealand government delegates.

Key dates for the pilot

• EOI process went live: 9am Thursday 30 September 2021
• EOI process closed: 5pm Saturday 9 October 2021
• Selected applicants will be advised if they are in the pilot (subject to providing verification and appropriate self-isolation plan) by Friday 15 October 2021
• Arrival period into New Zealand: Saturday 30 October to Wednesday 8 December 2021
• Final travellers exit self-isolation after 10 days: 18 December 2021

Evaluation report

The pilot has now finished and the Self-Isolation Pilot summary report has been published: