Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says he made the decision to axe an upcoming MIQ room release yesterday.

The MIQ system was under "quite a lot of strain" as more returnees test positive for Omicron, the minister said at a press briefing this afternoon.

Hipkins said it was an operational matter and a delay for a period of time while officials figure out what is happening at the border. The Government was "working very hard" to provide certainty in an uncertain environment.

The room release, scheduled for January 20, was postponed last night.

There is no question New Zealand is moving to a self-isolation model, Hipkins said. The question is when that should happen.

The community protection framework would be discussed at Cabinet today.