A New Zealand Defence Force worker at a managed isolation facility. Photo / NZDF
A New Zealand Defence Force worker at a managed isolation facility. Photo / NZDF
Almost 11,000 people have used Rotorua motels for their 14-day managed isolation since the facilities opened in June last year.
Of the 10,906 people to go through one of the city's three managed isolation and quarantine hotels between then and July 23, 50 people tested positive for Covid-19.
The Sudima,Ibis and Rydges hotels are all being used for managed isolation.
Sudima and Ibis were brought on board in June last year after Auckland facilities reached capacity.
It was a controversial move as residents said they hadn't been warned it would be happening.
The Ibis is a managed isolation facility in Rotorua. Photo / NZME
At the time, mayor Steve Chadwick said she was notified of the decision on Friday and informed on Saturday the Defence Force was bringing people in that night.
Rotorua MP, National's Todd McClay, was furious and said Rotorua had not been given the respect it deserved.
In July, Rydges became the third hotel being used for managed isolation.
On average, 351 staff work at Rotorua facilities each day and between September 1, 2020 and July 6 this year a total of 30,393 Covid-19 tests were done on returnees.
A total of 466 returnees were expected to go through Rotora motels in the 14 days from July 23.
MIQ Central regional operations director Hayley McConnell said he had found the Rotorua community "welcoming and supportive of MIQ operations".
"I cannot say enough about the responsiveness of the Rotorua community to be welcoming and supportive of MIQ operations, from those who give a friendly wave to staff in uniform to schools, organisations and businesses who have showed Rotorua's manaaki for the greater safety of New Zealand," she said.
"With every returnee having a different reason for returning home, our team work tirelessly to ensure that returnee experiences are as comfortable as possible during their isolation time. It is an especially rewarding experience for the MIQ team members to work every day in partnership with iwi, government agencies and business in this community."
She said MIQ operations in Rotorua had "continued to progress expediently" since being set up in June last year.
Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / NZME
McClay said it was important to have MIQ as there were a number of New Zealanders wanting to return home.
"The people working and the military, they seem to be working very hard and local people are grateful for that," he said.
McClay believed the Governmnet needed to focus on vaccinating as quickly as possible to make sure Kiwis were safe and could rejoin the rest of the world.
Labour list MP Tāmati Coffey said keeping Covid-19 out of the community was the main aim for Rotorua.
"New Zealanders have a right to come home and we need to make sure they are being quarantined appropriately, which is why I congratulate all involved for the determination over the last 12 months, in keeping us safe.
"I've had messages of gratefulness, letters of thanks and a recognition at the highest level about the role that we have played in this and I thank iwi representatives who have stepped up week after week to help with relationships and first-class advice," he said.
"Because of the way that we have handled this pandemic, New Zealanders living abroad continue to come home in big numbers, and I am proud to say that Rotorua is welcoming them home with the manaakitanga that we are famous for."
The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, which manages the facilities, was also asked what breaches there had been at the hotels but it said this would need to be requested under the Official Information Act.
As of August 8, MIQ data showed there were 3905 in managed isolation and 60 people in quarantine. There were 3249 people projected to go return in the following 14 days. In total 161,634 people had been through the facilities nationwide since March 26.
Labour list MP Tamati Coffey has been approached for comment.
