National's proposing a points-based system to make getting a spot in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities fairer - but the Government says that would be too much paperwork and slow the process down.
Another fix is more hotels - but the question is who will staff them? There are more health workers ready and waiting, but they can't get through MIQ.
Mohammed Choudhary can't breathe or eat. He's in the final stages of motor neuron disease.
"There's not much time left - he wants to meet his brother," says sibling Zulfiya Chaudhary.
Brother Tariq, in Pakistan, was given a humanitarian border exemption by the Ministry of Health to come and say goodbye.
But MIQ officials won't give him an emergency room because he's not a Kiwi.
"That was the only happiness we were looking forward to but that is also not possible," Zulfiya said.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says "that's one of the devastatingly sad things with what we've had to do with our borders".
The problem is there's just not enough space in MIQ. The Government wants to set up more hotels in Christchurch and Rotorua, and Christchurch City Mayor Lianne Dalziel is keen.
"We would be willing to provide more if we can," she says.
But Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick is putting his foot down.
"Our message was consistent and it was very emphatic - we've done our fair share," says Chadwick.
Figures obtained by Newshub show staffing Rotorua's three MIQ hotels require 50 health workers and nine police officers. Another facility would take another 15 health workers and three police off the frontline.
Chadwick says that's concerning.
Ironically a lack of MIQ space is stalling one of the fixes for more managed isolation space. Figures released to Newshub show visas for more than 4600 critical health workers and their families have been approved.
But more than 1100 are still offshore - and Newshub has been told many simply can't get a spot in MIQ.
National Party leader Judith Collins says the 'first in, first served' system needs to change to a prioritised one based on points.
But COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says moving to something like that could make the immigration system "incredibly burdensome and very slow".
Slow, but perhaps fairer, so people like Mohammed can get their dying wish.
