A shortage of healthcare workers and security staff could be a major hurdle to establishing long-term MIQ facilities.

Government briefings, released under the Official Information Act, show officials have considered barrack-style accommodation, campervans and bespoke apartments as MIQ centres.

But they found New Zealand didn't have the workers to staff them.

Nurses Organisation Industrial Services Manager Glenda Alexander told Mike Hosking there's already a shortage of nurses in hospitals.

"Distracting more nurses into other care is going to be a challenge, that's for sure."

She says there needs to be solutions to fix the nurses shortage.

"There could also be a recruitment campaign to loom at the particular skills needed in MIQs and decided whether or not there are some people better suited to that work."

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