MIQ
A huge new barrier to immigrating to New Zealand is the required two week stay in a managed isolation facility. This is something that is personally terrifying to me. Mainly because I question how sane I would be after spending two weeks with my kids in a hotel room. I love my kids, but there are limits to what I want to subject myself to.
Since I haven’t had a first hand experience with MIQ, I reached out to a Bumblemom reader with whom I’ve been corresponding as she prepared for her move. (BTW, this is one of my favorite things about this blog. I actually get to meet a lot of you when you move!) She’s just made it over and gone through a successful stint in an MIQ facility. Below are her responses to my questions about this experience:
What did you do and pack to prepare for the two week stay in MIQ? Did you find any resources to help prepare you?
We brought things to keep us occupied: books, magazines, games, an iPad with a VPN connection for favorite shows. We brought a few things to make the stay easier and keep our room clean: a knife and cutting board, a few favorite treats, a line to dry clothes. And we brought things to occupy our 2.5 year old: art supplies, books, coloring paper, toy trucks, window markers, puzzles, a flashlight, and a few Lego sets. We didn’t bring things that we thought we could get delivered within 24 hours or so, like diapers. A lively Facebook group for people staying in MIQ was full of tips of what to bring for our stay.
We packed two suitcases specifically for MIQ: one with clothes, and one with all the other stuff, so that we wouldn’t have to constantly access our other suitcases. This worked nicely because we were able to put away most of our non-MIQ suitcases in the closet and keep our small room somewhat organized.
The most important thing we did, however, was prepare mentally for the experience of staying in a hotel room for two weeks! We knew this would be hard but reminded ourselves of our reasons of coming to New Zealand, the Covid-free world we would enter after the two weeks, and how grateful we were to be able to do so.
What happened from the time you disembarked from the plane to arriving in your hotel room? How long did it take, and were there any considerations for young kids?
All in all, it took about 3.5 hours from disembarking to arriving at our hotel. Immediately after arrival, we received a health screening for Covid symptoms, including a temperature check. After that, the process was more familiar: border control, luggage collection, biosecurity. We then queued to exit the airport and be transported to our quarantine facility. Because MIQ facilities are located around New Zealand, we could have been placed on another flight to Christchurch, or a bus ride to Rotorua. Once we made it to the front of the line, we spotted our destination on an unassuming white board: Grand Millennium in Auckland’s CBD. We took a socially distant bus for about 30 minute and arrived at our destination! Because we were traveling with an increasingly impatient kiddo, the staff allowed us to exit the bus first (and skip a few lines at the airport). After checking in with NZDF and hotel staff, we were given breakfast for the day and were off to our room.
Where did you end up spending your two weeks of quarantine? What was your first impression of your MIQ facility?
We stayed at the Grand Millennium in Auckland, one of the few facilities in the CBD. Our first impression was how quiet it was! Even though the Grand Millennium is one of the largest MIQ facilities, there were no people walking around – you would not have known it was near capacity when we arrived. Our second impression, upon arriving into our room, was how small it was! I was harboring a wish that we would get a larger room as a family of three, but that was not the case.
How much interaction did you have with the on-site team in your facility? Did you feel like they were taking proper safety precautions? Did you feel like your interactions with them were positive?
We had regular but brief interactions with the on-site team for our daily health checks, Covid tests, and outings to the outdoor deck, for which we had to check in and out. We had nothing but positive interactions with the staff – they were exceptionally nice and professional throughout our stay. They all took proper safety precautions, and I really can’t say enough good things about the staff - the NZDF, MoH, and hotel employees were top-notch. It seemed to me that they recognized that many people traveled under trying circumstances, and went out of the way to be kind. After a long journey and a stressful few months with very little interactions with strangers, this was so appreciated.
Could you walk me through what a typical day looked like in MIQ?
I’m early riser, and was up at dawn to have a few moments to myself while the rest of the family slept in. The first task of the day was to reserve an outdoor time slot for the next day. We were permitted 40 minutes a day on an outdoor deck, but had to sign up for the time slots a day in advance – and they filled up fast!
Breakfast would arrive around 8:30, announced with a knock on the door. We’d take out the Twister mat and have breakfast on it, picnic style. My husband would try to work for a few hours, while my son and I played for a bit. We called friends and family back home to say hello.
We’d usually go outside mid-morning and return in time for the daily health and temperature checks. We’d watch some TV, and wait for lunch to arrive around 12:30. After that, it was naptime for my son, and my husband and I would get some quiet time to plan for the many things that need to be done when moving countries.
After naptime, we’d just try to make it to bedtime – sometime that meant play, sometimes we’d go downstairs where we can walk in circles in a parking lot, maybe more TV or cleaning up. I’d usually try to work out during this time, and we’d often open a bottle of wine around 5. We’d have dinner around 6:30 and then start bedtime routine. My son slept in his makeshift “bedroom” in the hallway of our room, so for the remainder of the night my husband and I would talk in hushed voices or watch TV quietly.
Did you ever get nervous that you could be at risk of contracting Covid from the MIQ facility? If so, how did you address that fear?
Yes, absolutely – this was top of mind for us during the course of the stay. We meticulously wore masks (as required) and washed our hands regularly. We wiped down surfaces frequently. But we also realized that certain elements – the air in elevators, in particular – were beyond our control, and tried not to worry too much about it.
What was the hardest part of being in an MIQ facility? Conversely, what was the best part?
Being contained in a hotel room for 2 weeks is, without a doubt, mentally challenging. There was a low point for me around days 7 or 8, when the novelty and enthusiasm wears off, but there’s still a week left. Thankfully I had the support of my husband and distraction of my toddler to lean on, but I imagine this might be a tougher experience for solo travelers.
This is so cheesy, but the best part was spending time together with my family. Since March, my husband and I worked from home and our son stayed at home with us (this was, of course, nutty and impossible at points). Because we are new to Auckland, I knew that things would be hectic once we left MIQ – finding a place to live, buying a car, starting new a job. So in some weird way, MIQ served as a chance to soak in some family time before we returned to a busier pre-Covid routine of offices, daycare, and errands.
How did you handle typical housekeeping chores, like laundry, trash, dishes, and keeping a tiny living space clean?
Our bathroom served as our laundry room, dishwashing station, and occasional office. The hotel did laundry for us, but we also washed some clothes by hand that we line dried in the bathroom. Trash was collected daily. Dishes were washed by hand. Unfortunately, the windows in our room didn’t open, so I have to admit the room did not smell fresh by the end of our stay!
Keeping things tidy was a challenge. Because vacuums were not permitted (I’m not entirely sure why, but I imagine they either pose a cross-room contamination risk or maybe can capture Covid particles), we tried hard to avoid crumbs. We ate our food on a Twister mat that doubled as a picnic blanket. Of course, trying to avoid crumbs is a losing battle with a toddler, and at point I resorted to using strips of tape to collect dirt off the floor. This took a while but, hey, I had time!
Was it easy or difficult to get anything you needed delivered to your MIQ facility? If you placed outside orders, what places or restaurants did you order from?
It was easy to have food or other goods delivered to the facility, with the exception of wine – alcohol was controlled. We placed a few orders from a nearby Countdown for snacks, fruits, and veggies, and we ordered some Thai food on occasion. The food at the hotel was good, and the hotel staff kindly left a few thoughtful surprises along the way: pineapple lumps to mark the halfway of our stay; champagne and a cupcake to celebrate day 12; and a bag of sweets for my son on Halloween.
How did your son handle two weeks in MIQ? What are some of the things you did to keep him entertained and yourself sane?
I found 2.5 years to be a good age for quarantine, if there is such a thing! Our son was mostly happy to be with mom and dad all day. He was a good sport about it, even though I know he would have loved to stay outside longer to play.
My son is obsessed with trucks, so we did ALL the truck things: we made construction sites with pom-poms. We made roads on the floor with tape, and use Weet-Bix boxes for street lights. We painted trucks (the Twister mat was used as art mat as well). We used scissors and dot stickers to make trucks out of construction paper. We put truck stickers on the window. We stared out the window for long periods of time in search of construction trucks. We built (and rebuilt) truck Legos. We made trucks out of Play-Doh. We watched many, many truck videos. And we read books, did puzzles, used a flashlight to make hand puppets on the wall, and jumped on the bed (it is a hotel, after all!)
For me, I browsed through the 15 cooking magazines we brought with us (it was worth the luggage weight). I finished two wonderful books, Pachinko and Wild. I watched two seasons of The Great British Baking Show. I did a little bit of yoga, which my son delightfully attempted to imitate. And when I needed a break, I would go walk in a parking lot where we were permitted to walk in circles (jogging is not permitted).
What did it feel like when you left MIQ and entered a community that doesn’t worry (much) about Covid?
It was wild. For us living in the U.S., it has become second nature to wear a mask, carry hand sanitizer, and avoid walking within 6 feet of strangers. So it was quite the shock to walk into a crowded New Zealand grocery store with no masks in sight! I underestimated how tough this transition would be. For the first week or two, I was very cautious about public places, and kept wearing masks in public. But that eased a few weeks in, and now walking around without a masks feels a bit more normal – although no way you’d find me at a sports game or concert anytime soon!
Shortly after you got out of MIQ, Auckland had a scare with Covid in the community. How did you feel when you heard about the AUT student? How did you feel as you watched New Zealand mobilize to prevent any further spread and track and trace this case?
Surprisingly, I wasn’t particularly worried. I had followed New Zealand’s response closely from overseas, and saw how the government ably ringfenced a few Covid scares, and how people organized to prevent the spread of the virus. It was, of course, unnerving that the transmission mechanism to the AUT student was unclear – but as we’ve learned, this is a tricky virus and we have to remain alert about its potential to jump to the community.
Is there anything else you want to add or anything you wish you knew going into the MIQ experience?
Spending 336 hours in a small space is tough. Before traveling, I focused my preparation on easing the physical discomfort of MIQ, like finding entertainment options and buying our comfort snacks. But ultimately what got us through it was taking care of our mental health, with the aid of a checklist of daily must-dos: breathe fresh air, move our bodies, read a book, call family and friends, and take stock of things we are grateful for.
While MIQ is challenging, it’s important to keep perspective. We might be stir-crazy, the food might be a bit cold, and our room might be small – but this is nothing relative to the pain that Covid has inflicted worldwide. Some of our fellow MIQ flatmates had missed funerals or births, were separated from loved ones for months, and for some travel to New Zealand was a logistical nightmare with cancelled international flights. And of course there are many overseas who are still attempting to travel to New Zealand. While MIQ may not be a dream hotel vacation, we feel very grateful to exit it to live in this beautiful country without the daily fear of Covid.
MIQ resources:
MIQ - the official MIQ website
New Zealand Hotel Quarantine Facebook Group - This is a private group, so you will need to request to join.
Moving to New Zealand Facebook Group - For all things moving related, including MIQ questions.
If you’ve gone through MIQ, are there other tips and tricks you can share about how to make the best of a strange situation? Or if you’re nervous, what are the things that make you uneasy?
