Tourists face deportation
Two tourists face deportation a day after arriving in New Zealand with no clear plans to self-isolate.
They are the first to face deportation as officials begin spot checks of those who arrived in the country after 1am on Monday to ensure they self-isolate for 14 days. Immigration New Zealand (INZ) said the pair arrived from Southeast Asia on Monday morning. The pair are required to remain in New Zealand for 14 days of self-isolation.
‘‘This kind of behaviour is completely irresponsible and will not be tolerated which is why these individuals have been made liable for deportation,’’ INZ spokesman Stephen Vaughan said. ‘‘They are currently being quarantined. If they fail to depart after quarantine, they will be arrested and detained under the Immigration Act.’’
Officers arrived at the Rucksacker backpacker hostel in Christchurch about 11.30am yesterday. A witness saw a police prisoner van transport a woman wearing a mask, and several police officers speaking to other backpackers.
The hostel’s manager, who declined to be named, said a woman wearing a face mask arrived late on Monday night to check-in. The woman, originally booked into a dorm for one night, asked for a private room. ‘‘... then in the morning when I got up to open reception there was a lady from the Ministry of Health here coming to check on her and ask what her plans were for her isolation,’’ the manager said.
‘‘They were just questioning her for a little bit in my office. And then a couple of hours later we had about five police officers and another person from the ministry and they eventually took her away.’’ She said the woman was ‘‘a bit upset’’, but did not cause a scene.