Duco founder David Higgins has launched a scathing attack on the New Zealand government for its failure to provide a viable home isolation system, and the double standards that allowed foreign musicians to enter the
Liam Napier
"There are probably 100,000 people or families disenfranchised by this who are silent. I've been very reluctant to speak publicly because there's people with family members who are terminally ill – there's always going to be someone worse off than you."
Higgins' major grievance is the lack of flexibility for fully vaccinated New Zealanders who present a negative Covid-19 test to isolate at home. He cites the likes of Parker and UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya as examples of Kiwis who earn their living abroad.
New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox and Olympic triathlete bronze medallist Hayden Wilde also endured similar challenges last year.
"The failure is they should have set up a rigorous home MIQ system for people who have to travel for work. I would have funded my own MIQ.
"Michael Joseph Savage will be turning in his grave. It's a dereliction of duty to abandon your own citizens. The millions of New Zealanders who live outside the country are still New Zealanders. You can't pretend they're not just so your stats look better.
"I'm outraged. To lock out your own citizens under duress is unacceptable and given the hundreds of billions spent, there should have been a better response."
Higgins is now staying in New York with a cousin and attending business meetings for future events but will soon relocate to Melbourne to reunite with his family.
"The government has done some things right but the failure to have a functioning home MIQ and to acknowledge the reality that some people have to travel has harmed and traumatised a few hundred thousand New Zealanders."