A pregnant New Zealand journalist stranded in Afghanistan whose story shocked the world has been offered a place in a hotel quarantine facility so she can enter the country.
The spot for Charlotte Bellis in a quarantine hotel, and flight arrangements alongside it, had been communicated to her today by the New Zealand government.
‘There is a place in MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) for Miss Bellis and I urge her to take it up,’ Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said at today’s post-Cabinet press conference.
Currently 25 weeks pregnant, broadcast journalist Charlotte Bellis will finally be allowed back in New Zealand
The decision comes after Bellis repeatedly tried to return home to New Zealand since she learned she was pregnant in September but had her application rejected twice due to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern‘s closed border.
The journalist decided to go public and write about her difficulties in a column published in The New Zealand Herald after she was left with no alternative but to turn to the Taliban for help.
The New Zealand government denied suggestions it had granted her a place because of the international media attention.
‘They always try to make contact with people and try to make arrangements that work,’ Mr Robertson said.
‘That has been consistently what they have been doing over the last couple of weeks to support Ms Bellis through the application process.
‘And in each circumstance .. the specific set of circumstances the person faces is taken into account and in that regard, Ms Bellis is no different.’
Charlotte Bellis (pictured with partner, Belgium photographer Jim Huylebroek)
Jacinda Ardern’s (pictured) strict Covid borders hampered Charlotte Bellis’ attempts to return home before giving birth to her first child in May
Bellis is one of tens of thousand of Kiwis who have been stranded overseas due to Jacinda Ardern’s strict Covid rules.
Under the rules, all returning New Zealanders must secure a place in a hotel quarantine facility and stay there for 10 days.
However there’s a limited number of places available, so the government uses a controversial online lottery system to allocates rooms.
Ms Bellis was flooded with online support for her efforts to return home, and was thanked for speaking out.
‘Please continue to fight for everyone that doesn’t have your profile. You are highlighting the absurdity and cruelty of the MIQ system, with multiple loopholes for the ultra wealthy, citizens or not,’ one commented.
Another added: ‘Many of us know people stuck overseas being treated in such a cruel way but we don’t have the means to bring it attention. Thank you.’
Prime Minister Ardern is yet to comment on Ms Bellis’ plight and is in self-isolation after she was declared a close contact of a Covid case. She has tested negative so far and will stay in isolation until Wednesday.
Today, Mr Robertson said Ardern would make a speech about ‘New Zealand’s plan to reconnect with the world’ on Thursday.
