Your January 2021 Mobile Newsletter

January 2021

Happy New Year!

It feels good to bid farewell to 2020 and look forward with renewed optimism. Although the world's COVID challenges won't resolve overnight, we are hopeful that you'll able to join us in NZ soon.

To that end, here's this month's content to help you plan the journey ahead:

How to Cope with a Positive COVID-19 Test During MIQ
Latest Move to New Zealand resources
What's in a year?
Immigration and Border Updates
Waitangi Day
Words of the Month: Togs and Jandals

As always, please feel free to reach out. We're here.

How to Cope with a Positive COVID-19 Test During MIQ

We all know why MIQ exists, but most people don’t like to consider the worst-case scenario of developing the disease during their 14-day isolation period.

A family of Mobile clients, with young children, recently went through this experience. Although it was stressful, we’re pleased they did not suffer major illness and made it out in time for a much-anticipated Kiwi Christmas.

They’ve generously agreed to share some tips on what to expect, and how to manage the situation:

Honesty is the best policy. After discovering soon after arrival that a close contact back home had COVID, the family notified the NZ authorities. This meant they could go onto a more frequent testing regime, which meant earlier detection (and earlier release).

Don’t be afraid of a positive result. There are doctors on the end of the phone to discuss symptoms, and you’ll get a daily oxygen-level check. In fact, once COVID was confirmed for each family member, life got easier – testing stopped and, people are considered non-contagious after 10 days and can leave MIQ (so long as there are no symptoms within 72 hours of departure).

The Jet Park quarantine facility is OK. As soon as you’re COVID positive, you’ll be moved out to Jet Park. Our family found it better set up for a long term stay than their previous 5-star hotel in the CBD. Access to outdoor space was easier and a dedicated family support team provided welcome distractions like balls, chalk and puzzles. The food wasn’t so good though!

Get a NZ phone up and running. We were able to purchase a phone and deliver a prepaid sim card to the family – this was a lifesaver with ordering food and other essentials for the longer stay in MIQ, as many NZ suppliers require a local telephone number for online orders.

What's in a year?

As we turn the calendar over to a new year, it’s worth noting that several other ‘years’ are laid out differently in New Zealand compared to elsewhere in the world.

The New Zealand financial year runs from 1st of April through the 31st of March with tax filings due by the 7th of July of the same calendar year. NZ-based companies typically utilise the same cycle while multi-nationals more often use a calendar year or something specific to their business.

Meanwhile, our academic year roughly follows the calendar year with the school year getting underway in late January or early February and wrapping up in mid-December. Within that, the year is organised into four terms offering a 2-week break between terms.

Down here in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons are the reverse of the northern ones. Whether you live for sunshine or snow, it’s encouraging to know that the opposite of your current season is happening somewhere on the globe.

WAITANGI DAY
February 6th

Waitangi Day commemorates the first signing of New Zealand’s founding document: Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi) on 6 February 1840. It is recognised as New Zealand’s national day, when the partnership between Maori and the Crown was formalised.

In recent years, the style and mood of commemorating Waitangi Day have been influenced by debate around the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand. Currently, the formal celebrations take place at Waitangi, north of Auckland, and many cities and local iwi (tribes) also hold public festivals.