ACT leader David Seymour wants the Government to dump MIQ now after a pregnant Kiwi journalist was forced to seek refuge from the Taliban when her MIQ application was declined.
Seymour says Charlotte Bellis' story should be a turning point for the Government and he sees no justification for waiting another month.
"Bellis is far from the only case. The cruelty of MIQ has created many like hers. The absurdity of the Taliban being more humane than the New Zealand Government puts the policy in stark relief though," he says.
"The humane and rational response of the Government would be to dump MIQ now. It doesn't work, ties up valuable resources, and is unimaginably cruel."
However COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says MIQ has made a "huge contribution to our COVID-19 response".
"If the Government has abolished MIQ when National and ACT said so, New Zealand would likely have seen tens of thousands of cases over the summer break," Hipkins adds.
It comes after the National Party dropped 'Now' from its 'End MIQ Now' petition earlier last week.
National's petition to end MIQ now focuses on the need for a "plan to end it" rather than ending it "now" as it used to suggest.
"MIQ is a lottery of human misery that is trapping tens of thousands of Kiwis offshore, preventing them getting home and reuniting with loved ones," it says. "The sooner we have a plan to end it the better."
"We continue to think New Zealand should end MIQ for fully vaccinated travellers to NZ as soon as possible," a spokesperson from National leader Christopher Luxon's office told Newshub.
"The Government said that the border would reopen from mid-January. Now that's been pushed to the end of February, and that may change again. The Government needs a clear plan to end the misery of MIQ and introduce self-isolation for vaccinated travellers to NZ."
Hipkins told Newshub decisions made by the Government haven't been straightforward but they do have to strike a balance.
He added changes have been signalled by the Government and these will be announced in due course.
