I’ve seen lots of fellow Kiwis overseas tweeting thoughts on the NZ govt proposal to charge citizens $3000 (approx £1500) towards the cost of quarantine on returning home. I thought I’d share my thoughts. (Thread)

I’m lucky: I can afford it and I could probably even keep working during the two-week enforced hotel stay. That doesn’t mean I think the proposal is fair (I don’t), and it doesn’t mean there are not thousands of others who will really suffer because of it (there are).

I don’t think a New Zealand citizen should ever be in a position where costs imposed by government make it difficult or impossible to return home. And their reason for returning should make no difference: nobody should have to justify wanting to return to their homeland.

Yes, the taxpayer burden is an issue but we all live in countries where we pay taxes towards services we might not use. I’ve never had access to welfare benefits in the UK but a huge part of my tax goes towards ensuring others do. I believe that's part of being a good society.

The quarantine system in NZ is working. Using taxes to continue that success is simply the 'cost of doing business' right now. Just like my taxes are currently helping to keep workers in the UK furloughed. I don’t say “well I’m not furloughed, why should I pay for those who are?”

There are other options. Does quarantine really need to be served at the country’s most expensive hotels? I think most of us would be perfectly happy with two weeks in cheaper accommodation or even an army camp if it minimised costs for the NZ taxpayer. We don't expect luxury.

Many Kiwis overseas have struggled with flights and getting refunds for cancellations. That situation hasn’t improved much. Also, we can't just get on a plane and go - most of us have admin things to sort first. To have expected everyone to return to NZ in March is unrealistic.

I had planned to return for Christmas - I was born in NZ, I grew up there, my parents and sister live there and I want to be with them. But long haul air travel is still a gamble. Many transit points are not open and others can close without notice if there is a new outbreak.

I have told my parents not to travel to the UK at the moment - it’s just too risky for them. So it’s likely we won't be together again for many more months - if not years. That upsets me and I know there are many others in the same situation.

The worst comments are the ones that say: “We’ve made sacrifices here, they shouldn’t be able to come back and enjoy our success”. Kiwis overseas made sacrifices too. Some have lost jobs and some have lost family/friends to the virus. It has been tough for many here in the UK.

Most Kiwis in NZ are pretty sensible about it but there is a minority - who happen to be rather loud - who are showing themselves to be unkind and uncaring, with a certain amount of envy thrown in. It's hostile and unattractive. I’m surprised and so disappointed.

I’m proud to be from NZ - a country that has shown the world how to behave with kindness on so many occasions in recent years. It has always been a comfort to know I could return if ever I needed to. After all, that’s what citizenship is, right?

But the attitude I’m seeing towards returning Kiwis at the moment is not the NZ I know. And I don’t think it’s exaggerating to say many of us Kiwis overseas won’t easily forget it. (Thread ends)

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