12 January 2022
An isolation facility for people with Covid-19 is opening today at a lodge at Lake Okataina, near Lake Rotoiti.
Ownership of the lodge has recently been taken over by Ngāti Tarawhai, who have offered it for community isolation.
Te Arawa Covid-19 response group co-chair Monty Morrison said it was surrounded by bush with no neighbours or nearby community, after earlier consternation about Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities in Rotorua.
"We've been able to put that in place via a generous offer from our Ngāti Tarawhai, Ngāti Pikiao people, and the rest of all of us agencies alongside the Te Arawa collective helping in that process.”