Two sisters who have flown from Melbourne to be with their dying mother are asking for an exemption so they can leave quarantine early, but say the process has been unwieldy and slow.
They are due to be released from 14 days mandatory isolation on Saturday but fear their mother may die before they get to see her.
The Ministry of Health says exemptions from the requirement for all arrivals to go into "managed isolation" or quarantine are granted only under extremely limited circumstances.
One of the sisters, Joanne, said their first request for dispensation, made on April 19, the day after they arrived in the country, was turned down.
"Just the standard line of they have to protect the country and the lockdown is for the good of preventing the spread of the virus. And everyone has to do their part."
They appealed to the Ministry of Health on Friday and were supposed to hear back within 48 hours but have not yet had an answer, she said.
"These are very time-critical decisions. We're not wanting to be released so we can go on holiday to Queenstown. Time is against us."
She said there was only one family member in their mother's bubble.
"Our father died six months ago and she has been coping on her own.
Jack Tame and David Farrar join Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss this story and the other news of the day
-Â text by RNZ
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