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# Face of the Day
- URL: https://goodoil.news/face-of-the-day-402/
- Published: 2021-07-21T18:30:00.000Z
- Updated: 2021-07-20T23:35:22.000Z
- Author: Good Oil Staff
- Tags: COVID-19, NZ, NZ Politics, Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-17 01:54

When journalist **David Farrier** left New Zealand his return journey was only a vague concern. Now he spends hours a day refreshing a yellow and white webpage attempting to get back into the country.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/31/f4/31f4e20a-0315-499e-83ff-139e8eab53bf/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/screen-shot-2021-07-21-at-11.28.41-am.png)

Image credit The BFD. David Farrier

> And so my week has been spent on a fun website called [allocation.miq.govt.nz](https://allocation.miq.govt.nz/portal/?ref=goodoil.news). This website is my home away from home, and my day is defined by setting aside a few hours each day to try and win a game called “Book a Spot in New Zealand MIQ”.  
>  
> \[…\] And here’s the thing: clicking these squares was incredibly stressful, as I knew that hundreds of other people were doing exactly the same thing — chasing the same recently-released MIQ spot as me.  
>  
> And sure enough, by the time I’d completed the CAPTCHA test, the place was already gone.  
>  
> The fact that made me feel both solace and anger? I’d been beaten by a bot. I hadn’t stood a chance.  
>  
> And I’m not the only one:  
>  
> The Spinoff

> What's it like applying for quarantine in New Zealand? I made a video of 100 attempts to secure a spot. Almost got there once. [pic.twitter.com/vPlnZzTSoS](https://t.co/vPlnZzTSoS?ref=goodoil.news)
> 
> — Jonathan Brewer ?????? (@kiwibrew) [July 9, 2021](https://twitter.com/kiwibrew/status/1413290856795099139?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=goodoil.news)