Open main menu Close main menu

Monitoring COVID-19 managed isolation and quarantine facilities

Te aroturuki whakaurunga whakahaere mohoaotanga me te taratahi Mate Korona

On 17 June 2020, the Chief Ombudsman announced he is setting up a new inspection programme to monitor and report on COVID-19 isolation and quarantine facilities.

Chief Ombudsman to begin inspections of COVID-19 isolation facilities

This work helps fulfil New Zealand’s obligations to the Optional Protocol to the United Nations (UN) Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), an international human rights agreement New Zealand ratified in 2007. The Chief Ombudsman is responsible for inspecting the treatment of people in health and disability places of detention – where people are not free to leave at will.

Relevant legislation

More about the Chief Ombudsman's monitoring role

The Government requires that all people arriving in New Zealand go into either managed isolation or quarantine, for 14 days, to keep COVID-19 from entering the community. 

Programme updates

The MIQ inspection programme started in October 2020.

The treatment and conditions of people detained in managed isolation and quarantine facilities is assessed using the same principles and Expectations used by the Ombudsman to conduct his COVID-19 inspections of other health and disability facilities, and prisons. 

Complaints


The Ombudsman monitors managed isolation and quarantine facilities to prevent human rights violations.

He can also look at a government agency’s decision-making process and how it deals with official information.

You should report any concerns or make a complaint about an MIQ facility using the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment’s (MBIE) MIQ complaints procedure.

MIQ complaints procedure

If you’ve already done this and believe you haven’t been treated fairly by an agency, the Ombudsman may be able to assist.

MIQ complaints  
 

 

Last updated