The Government's warning Kiwis overseas who want to come home for Christmas that they may have left their run too late.
Managed Isolation facilities are at capacity in the weeks before Christmas, meaning anyone without a booking may have to rethink their plans.
Kelly Fisher has just one wish this Christmas: to be home with her family.
"This year, out of all years, you're craving that because of what we've been through," she said.
Fisher has spent eight years in Surfers Paradise and wants to return to New Zealand permanently. With her home up for sale she's stuck in Australia until December.
Now she's found out all 6200 managed isolation rooms are fully booked the fortnight before Christmas.
"I jumped online - plenty of flights but no isolation and no quarantine, so I won't be able to be home for Christmas with loved ones," she said.
The Government on Monday night sent a clear message for anyone wanting to come home.
"What I'm saying is they can return home on flights but there may be situations where the exact dates they'd prefer are no longer available," said Air Commodore Darryn Webb, Head of Isolation and Quarantine.
It's cold comfort for Kelly Fisher's father, at home in Hamilton feeling helpless.
"She actually burst into tears - especially when she worked out the Christmas day one disappeared in front of her eyes. It was quite upsetting," Daryl Fisher said.
He's fearing the family Christmas he had planned now won't be happening.
"As she said mentally, she can't cope with Christmas day in quarantine - she'll just leave it to next year. She'll have to find somewhere to live in the meantime over there," he said.
COVID-19: a major disruption in 2020 - now messing up Christmas plans too.
