Group allocations

Criteria

To be eligible, the group must have:

• had a sponsoring Government agency
• needed more than 20 rooms
• had a time-sensitive entry OR the reason they needed to leave New Zealand must have been time-sensitive and they needed certainty of return before departing
• needed to enter as a single unit OR there was no reasonable alternative pathway for them
• been a Government priority.

To be considered a Government priority, groups must have met one of the following criteria.

• National interest:
  • The returnees were usually based in New Zealand and were returning from representing New Zealand at an international event or activity of national interest; or
  • The persons who were visiting New Zealand were essential to holding an event or activity considered to be in the national interest.
• Economic impact:
  • The group was travelling to support delivery of a major investment (>$100m) and/or a priority in the Government Major Events portfolio;
  • The purpose for which the group was travelling was expected to generate significant economic or employment activity.
• National security or obligations under international law or international relations:
  • The purpose for which the group was travelling was considered essential for New Zealand’s national security or New Zealand has obligations under international law or international relations.

Group allocation decisions

In February 2021, the Border Exception Ministerial Group became responsible for group allocations. The group made decisions in packages, the first package covered groups arriving between June and October 2021.

MIQ group allocation

As at 19 January 2022

Applications that were withdrawn or declined

The following groups applied for a group allocation and either withdrew their application or were declined.