Permanent residents, who are not vaccinated, are still banned from entering New Zealand, and permanent residents living in New Zealand fear if they leave, they won’t be able to return.

On 18th March, Chris Lynch Media first reported that Minister Chris Hipkins quietly made changes allowing unvaccinated New Zealand citizens to return to New Zealand without needing to use MIQ.

In this process, MIQ vouchers were cancelled, including those held by unvaccinated permanent residents and residents – leaving those overseas “locked out” of New Zealand, with no pathway to return.

Forgotten of New Zealand, which represents hundreds of ‘locked-out New Zealanders’ has accused the Government of outright discrimination.

Spokeswoman Sarah told Chris Lynch “unvaccinated Permanent Residents and Residents are being discriminated against, compared to unvaccinated citizens, and at a time when vaccination status is now almost irrelevant for daily life in New Zealand.”

“There is no evidence that the benefit sought by the legislation will be achieved because the rates of spread and transmission of the omicron variant are similar in vaccinated and unvaccinated people.”

She said “everyone entering New Zealand is required to return a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. This is an effective requirement, as demonstrated by publicly accessible information for the recent seven-day period.”

“With every passing day these New Zealanders are experiencing emotional, mental, and financial hardship and pain that at this point cannot be justified with a larger public health benefit.”

Sarah said “while the media may present the story of “New Zealanders being welcomed home” or “New Zealand is opening to tourists” the reality for “the forgotten” is very different.”

The group is asking the Government to change the legislation by 1st May, allowing ‘locked out’ New Zealanders to return to their homes, and ‘locked in” New Zealanders to be able to see their overseas families again – in line with the rights of all New Zealanders.

The group said following numerous failed attempts for clarification on why the decision is still in place, and presenting various government ministers with documentation demonstrating there is now no validity in this aspect of the legislation, the group has engaged Frontline Law, following its successful appeal on mandates for New Zealand Defence Force and Police.

National Party Customs spokesman Simon O’Connor told Parliament last week “we are ultimately in a very strange discriminatory situation here where citizens of New Zealand are allowed to return. But permanent residents are not.”

“There are basically no differences between a citizen of New Zealand and a permanent resident.”

“We need to remind ourselves that we’re surrounded in this country already by Kiwis who are “citizens and permanent residents. We make no distinction. In our daily lives, permanent residents can vote, and most importantly, particularly for a Labour government, they pay a lot of tax.”

It feels to me, both legally and morally wrong, that we’re not allowing them to return. Even on a pragmatic point of view, allowing New Zealanders who are permanent residents to return makes sense as we are crying out for extra help.”

“There is no health logic keeping people out. It’s not as if they’re bringing something into the country that’s not here.”

“Let’s not forget permanent residents of New Zealand currently who would love to travel for various reasons. I have one situation, in my electorate, where someone who’s a permanent resident is desperate to go overseas to see a dying loved one but they cannot because there is no guarantee of return and i just again want to read about anything that is legally wrong and i think that is morally wrong.”

**Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins and the Ministry of Health have been approached for comment. Hipkins’ office referred questions to the Ministry of Health. No one from the Ministry has responded.**