The New Zealand Government’s border restrictions have “seriously impacted the mental health of 100s of 1000s of citizens and residents needing to cross the border.”

According to survey results released today by advocacy group Grounded Kiwis, MIQ impacted the mental health of 78 percent of people who tried to secure an MIQ spot.

It left them: cut off from family and support networks; without housing and income, and struggling to cope with the level of uncertainty the system created.

The Grounded Kiwis survey, taken between August and September last year, collected 1857 responses from Kiwis and residents attempting to travel out of New Zealand and return, or trying to enter from many countries worldwide.

“Mental health distress has affected my work and general ability to function to the extent I have started taking medication to help with this,” said one respondent.

“I am completely unable to reach my children and grandchildren and am totally isolated where I live alone. This has caused severe depression, anxiety and sleeplessness,” said another.

“We want to highlight to all New Zealanders: who needs to use MIQ and why; what kind of life events cause people to apply for an emergency MIQ spot, and how the MIQ system has impacted their lives.”

The longer people waited for an MIQ spot, and the more time they spent looking, the greater the likelihood of mental health impacts.

Rates of mental health impact were especially high among people who had been declined emergency allocations.

“The survey highlights another gap in the emergency criteria in that there is currently no category for mental illness. We urge the Government to urgently address this.”

Key Findings from the Survey

● 75% of respondents who needed to cross the border had spent most of the past 12 months based offshore; 24% had been in NZ and 1% did not specify.

● Most people needed to cross the border to stay connected with whānau – 37% of people going offshore and returning and 21% coming from offshore described their reason as visiting family and loved ones. The other reasons included:

o To move or return home to New Zealand (21% Kiwis in NZ; 28% Kiwis overseas)

o To reunite with immediate family separated by the border (23% Kiwis in NZ; 14% Kiwis overseas)

o To support someone who needed care (15% Kiwis in NZ; 12% Kiwis overseas)

o For business/work purposes (20% Kiwis in NZ; 8% Kiwis overseas)

o Visa is/was due to expire (6% Kiwis in NZ; 10% Kiwis overseas)

o To farewell a loved one who was terminally ill (10% Kiwis in NZ; 7% Kiwis overseas)

o To take up a new job (2% Kiwis in NZ; 4% Kiwis overseas)