New Zealander Trev Ponting whose managed isolation and quarantine emergency application fiasco hit the headlines has been reunited with his family after arriving in Christchurch.
Ponting, 46, who has terminal brain cancer, wanted to travel back from where he lived in Japan to New Zealand to see his parents in late January.
His application for an emergency spot in managed isolation and quarantine was initially refused by officials on the same day the Government granted MIQ spots to Australian children entertainers, The Wiggles.
Officials later reversed the decision on Ponting’s application, less than 24 hours after Stuff highlighted his plight.
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On Sunday, Ponting, along with his wife Aiko and their two children, touched down in Christchurch after completing two weeks of MIQ in Auckland.
[We] hired a limo bus, our friends organised it, and we all got to collect him together and then everyone sat in the bus together for the drive home, which was pretty special, Pontings sister, Yvonne Ponting, told Stuff.
Seeing Ponting again at Christchurch Airport was extremely emotional, Yvonne said, especially when he hugged his mum.
Trev Ponting has been reunited with his parents in New Zealand after making it through managed isolation and quarantine.
To have him physically there and to be able to get our hands on him was pretty surreal actually, quite the moment.
Ponting is now staying at home with Yvonne. She said his mobility was limited and he struggles with short-term memory, but he was doing OK.
Ponting is due to have an oncology appointment next week, which should give the family a better idea of how long left he has left.
Pontings family are now in New Zealand after going through two weeks of MIQ.
The last estimation came from his Japanese doctors in January, who said he had months to live.
Thats weighing heavily in the back of our minds, Yvonne said.
Many of Ponting’s New Zealand-based friends have come to visit him since he arrived back.
Its lovely, hes loving seeing his mates and mum and dad and myself … and just all the family thats been constantly around there, Yvonne said.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed he was not involved in the decision to grant Trev Ponting and his family an emergency spot in MIQ.
He seems to be really enjoying being amongst us.
Yvonne said songs kept popping into Pontings mind, including The Beatles 1967 song, With A Little Help From My Friends.
Pontings wife and two children have travelled with him to New Zealand on visitor visas, but intend to apply for temporary residency.
It all takes a lot of time and a lot of paperwork, Yvonne said. As much as its awesome having them here and being able to be with them, a lot of [time is] spent running around and trying to sort things out.
It’s not quite relax and enjoy yet.
Since the reversal of Pontings emergency MIQ application, Health Minister Chris Hipkins and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have both confirmed they had no role in the decision.
A majority of applications for emergency MIQ spots are declined.
Between October 30 and January 24, 1642 applications for emergency allocations were made, of which 609 were approved.
One hundred and fifty rooms are available per fortnight for those who need to travel urgently.
Ponting, his wife Aiko and their two children have touched down in Christchurch after completing two weeks of MIQ in Auckland.
