NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Covid 19 coronavirus: Dying man denied last chance to get home as emergency managed isolation spot rejected

Vaimoana Tapaleao
By Vaimoana Tapaleao
Pasifika Editor·NZ Herald·
30 Jan, 2021 01:29 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Covid 19 coronavirus update: No new cases in community; MIQ bedroom 'encounter' revealed

Trev Ponting is dying of brain cancer overseas - and all he wants is to get home to his mum.

It is a final wish his family here in New Zealand and friends in Japan, where he lives, are trying desperately to fulfill.

But it is one that appears to be too much of an ask of officials; after an application for emergency spots in managed isolation for the 46-year-old, his wife Aiko and their two young children, aged 3 years old and 18 months old, was denied yesterday.

Sister Yvonne Ponting said the family, of Christchurch, could not understand how a dying New Zealander trying to get home did not warrant an acceptance of an emergency spot in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.

It was even more unfathomable when news broke that children's entertainment group The Wiggles had hurriedly been granted MIQ spots for 12 of their crew ahead of a nationwide tour.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I couldn't believe it. This is New Zealand - we care about each other in this country," she said.

'I just want to be with my mum'

She acknowledged that her children loved The Wiggles growing up and appreciated that many people around the country were looking forward to seeing them.

"But my brother is dying and he's got a young family who really need our support.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We'd just like to fulfill his dying wish - and that's to be with his mum. He has said to us: 'I just want to be with my mum'."

Trev Ponting, 46, holds daughter Mia and son Toa. Photo / Supplied
Trev Ponting, 46, holds daughter Mia and son Toa. Photo / Supplied
Trev Ponting. Photo / Supplied
Trev Ponting. Photo / Supplied

Trev Ponting has been living in Japan for the past few years, where he works as a ski instructor.

In 2019, around Christmas time, he received devastating news that several tumours had been found in his brain.

He underwent surgery to remove the tumours and spent 72 days in hospital that year.

A long recovery process awaited him and the family sought to try to move to New Zealand after new tumours were found about September last year - but then of course the world had turned upside down due to Covid-19.

His doctors have now told him he will only have a few months to live.

Access to emergency managed isolation denied

Yvonne said it was a devastating blow for the family and friends involved in preparing paper work - including letters from their brother's doctor in Japan, hospital staff in Japan and critical purpose visitor visas for Trev's wife and two children, Mia and Toa.

Everything was set and Trev and his little family were packed and ready to get on a flight as soon as the word dropped.

"I thought the visas were hard enough and that this part wouldn't be as hard. I just couldn't believe it when they were denied.

The Ponting family in Japan. Photo / Supplied
The Ponting family in Japan. Photo / Supplied
Trev Ponting, 46, with his daughter Mia, 3. Photo / Supplied
Trev Ponting, 46, with his daughter Mia, 3. Photo / Supplied

"There just didn't seem to be any compassion or anywhere we could ask for them to reconsider."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

A letter sent to the family said the application was denied as it did not fit under the "serious risk to health" category.

Read More

  • Covid 19 coronavirus update: No new cases in community; MIQ bedroom 'encounter' revealed - NZ Herald
  • Covid 19 coronavirus: Another Pullman Covid case? Woman says daughter infected at Auckland hotel
  • Covid 19 coronavirus: Government decision to ban cruise ship Le Laperouse slammed - NZ Herald
  • Covid 19 coronavirus: MIQ staffer sacked after bedroom encounter with returnee - NZ Herald
  • Covid 19 coronavirus: Love-struck MIQ staffer snuck notes into returnee's groceries, wrote phon...
  • Covid 19 coronavirus: New location of interest for Auckland cases - NZ Herald

There are currently two categories for applications for emergency allocation the MIQ offers New Zealand residents or citizens trying to fly home.

Category 1 includes those with a serious risk to health that therefore requires urgent travel to New Zealand.

Mum and dad 'beside themselves'

Category 2, however, includes anyone trying to enter New Zealand to visit a close relative who is dying and where timely travel is unlikely to be possible if the person books through the normal channels.

In this case, the latter is reversed - in that the citizen trying to get home is dying.

Yvonne said their parents - mum Linda, 71, and dad John, 74 - were "besides themselves" and she and her older brother and their families were trying to keep them positive.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We're just a family trying to get our dying brother home. There's aren't many of us here, but we are doing all we can to get Trev, Aiko and the kids.

"They're our family and we need to help them."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Shoppers abandon trolleys after fire at New World, Victoria Park

16 Jun 11:33 PM
OpinionUpdated

NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today

16 Jun 11:11 PM
New Zealand

From 5% to 70% survival rates – the conservation team taking eggs from kiwi nests

16 Jun 11:05 PM

How one volunteer makes people feel seen

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Shoppers abandon trolleys after fire at New World, Victoria Park

Shoppers abandon trolleys after fire at New World, Victoria Park

16 Jun 11:33 PM

Smoke can be seen across the city.

NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today

NZ Herald comments: The stories open for discussion today

16 Jun 11:11 PM
From 5% to 70% survival rates – the conservation team taking eggs from kiwi nests

From 5% to 70% survival rates – the conservation team taking eggs from kiwi nests

16 Jun 11:05 PM
Premium
The case for Year 14s to play First XV rugby

The case for Year 14s to play First XV rugby

16 Jun 11:00 PM
Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka
sponsored

Jono and Ben brew up a tea-fuelled adventure in Sri Lanka

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search