The National Party wants the five individuals who absconded from managed isolation on Friday to foot the bill of their apprehension.
At 7pm on Friday, five people - a 37-year-old woman and four children aged 12, 16, 17 and 18 - allegedly absconded from managed isolation at the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton. About 50 minutes later, four of them were located by police, while the 17-year-old was found on Saturday morning in Auckland.
Four of the absconders have been charged with intentionally failing to comply with an order made under the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. The 12-year-old hasn't been charged.
National's COVID-19 Border Response spokesperson Gerry Brownlee says their breakout was "alarming" and the "absconders must foot the bill".
He said "getting them back into quarantine cost hundreds of police and quarantine officials' hours as well as the helicopter costs. The absconders should pay up and a cost order should be sought".
Should people who abscond from managed isolation or quarantine pay for the costs of their apprehension?
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