New Zealand’s elite military force, the Special Air Service (NZSAS), was quietly deployed to oversee 501 deportees from Australia in a managed isolation quarantine (MIQ) facility during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The revelation published in legacy media today, which had not been widely reported, came during a parliamentary session where Defence Minister Judith Collins acknowledged the role, stating that MIQ duty was not what NZSAS personnel signed up for.
The NZDF confirmed that NZSAS members were stationed at Auckland’s Ramada MIQ facility, designated for 501 deportees, as part of the broader military response to COVID-19.
The decision was driven by security concerns, given the serious criminal backgrounds of many deportees.
While the NZDF’s deployment in MIQ has been well documented, the specific involvement of the NZSAS had remained undisclosed.
Experts suggest the assignment may have contributed to increased attrition rates in the Defence Force, as highly trained personnel left for private sector opportunities.
I thought that the Military could only be deployed against the Civilian Population(s) during Martial Law or to ensure enhanced security in monitoring individuals or organisations during the Time of War…!
What a waste of resources that could have been called to attend a sudden National Emergency that threatened NZ on a moment’s notice.
Mandates and Health Sector Directives DO NOT constitute the use of the Armed Forces in guarding and managing the civilian populations.
You have to &_$#+- kidding me! When New Zealand citizens with basic human rights were struggling to get access to their homeland, crime get a ticket + security resources. The 6th Labour Government deserves absolute contempt.