1809 days ago

Government increases fees for some of those staying in managed isolation

Brian from New Lynn

"From 25 March 2021, it is intended that temporary entry visa class holders will be charged higher fees for their managed isolation and quarantine stay," the statement reads. "The fees are currently $3100 (incl GST) for 14 days in managed isolation. "From 12.01am on 25 March, 2021, this will increase to $5520 (incl GST) for the first or only person in a room, $2990 for an additional adult, and $1610 for an additional child."
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The latest changes affect all temporary entry visa class holders, including:
• Visitor visas (such as partners of a New Zealand citizen or resident)
• Student visas
• Work visas, and
• Limited visas
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According to MBIE, the new fees better reflect the actual costs of managed isolation, although the Government is still subsidising some of the cost. The new fees are the same as those charged to critical workers entering the country under a border exception. "Temporary entry class visa holders who have already booked managed isolation and quarantine places and enter facilities from 25 March, 2021 will be liable to pay the new fees," MBIE says. "This change will not affect those temporary entry class visa holders who have entered managed isolation and quarantine before 12.01am on 25 March." However there will be exceptions as critical healthcare workers entering under a border exception will continue to be charged the current standard fee of $3,100. MBIE states it can grant a full or partial waiver of managed isolation fees in cases of financial hardship or other special circumstances, or arrange a deferment of payment, for temporary entry visa class holders. See the MIQ website for more details.
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More messages from your neighbours
1 hour ago

BLOCKHOUSE BAY COMMUNITY MARKET THIS SATURDAY MORNING!

Angela from Blockhouse Bay

1st MARKET BACK FOR 2O26! WE'RE BACK AND WILL BE AT GREENBAY COMMUNITY CENTRE BEHIND NEW WORLD OR ON BARRON RD OFF VARDON RD AS BHB CENTRE IS HAVING AN UPGRADE. CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE!

9 days ago

Even Australians get it - so why not Kiwis???

Markus from Green Bay

“Ten years ago, if a heatwave as intense as last week’s record-breaker had hit the east coast, Australia’s power supply may well have buckled. But this time, the system largely operated as we needed, despite some outages.

On Australia’s main grid last quarter, renewables and energy storage contributed more than 50% of supplied electricity for the first time, while wholesale power prices were more than 40% lower than a year earlier.

[…] shifting demand from gas and coal for power and petrol for cars is likely to deliver significantly lower energy bills for households.

Last quarter, wind generation was up almost 30%, grid solar 15% and grid-scale batteries almost tripled their output. Gas generation fell 27% to its lowest level for a quarter century, while coal fell 4.6% to its lowest quarterly level ever.

Gas has long been the most expensive way to produce power. Gas peaking plants tend to fire up only when supply struggles to meet demand and power prices soar. Less demand for gas has flowed through to lower wholesale prices.”

Full article: www.theguardian.com...


If even Australians see the benefit of solar - then why is NZ actively boycotting solar uptake? The increased line rental for electricity was done to make solar less competitive and prevent cost per kWh to rise even more than it did - and electricity costs are expected to rise even more. Especially as National favours gas - which is the most expensive form of generating electricity. Which in turn will accelerate Climate Change, as if New Zealand didn’t have enough problems with droughts, floods, slips, etc. already.