After two years of keeping COVID-19 and Kiwis out, MIQ is basically over from Wednesday night.
But some people will stay locked in isolation until the weekend and it's not for public health reasons.
Rapid antigen tests touched down in New Zealand in waves last week. One of which was scored by Captain Kim McKay who has spent more than 50 days in MIQ in the past year.
But despite landing a RAT, McKay will be stuck in MIQ until Saturday because he brought rapid antigen tests in from China.
Whereas Kiwis coming from Australia don't even have to self-isolate from tonight.
COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins defended the decision on Wednesday saying, "ultimately that was the timetable decided".
But Hipkins admitted there's no health reason to keep them locked up.
A spokesperson for MIQ told Newshub "changes like this can never happen overnight".
"It's a pretty big logistical exercise checking 1300 people out of MIQ - usually it's around 200 a day.
"And we also need to gather information on who is and isn’t vaccinated... that takes time," they said.
But that defence isn't flying with ACT Party leader David Seymour who said the decision made no sense.
"It's completely nonsensical. The Government is keeping people locked down for a rule they're getting rid of tomorrow."
And as MIQ as we know it ends, Newshub has obtained a document revealing just how much pressure it came under.
Days before a January room release was postponed, the system was so stretched MIQ was almost unable to meet all existing voucher commitments. And might have had to "delay refugees and other arrivals from Afghanistan".
They even considered reducing the number of emergency rooms
Hipkins has acknowledged the difficulties with the system previously.
"As Minister for COVID-19 Response, MIQ has been one of the most difficult parts of the job for me over the last 18 months."
Two years of keeping Kiwis locked up.
