Babies, MIQ and the All Blacks
Captain Sam Whitelock and firstfive Richie Mo’unga are set to miss the third Bledisloe test as their wives are expecting babies.
In these times it is understandable that family comes before even the mighty All Blacks but it is still a blow to coach Ian Foster’s future planning. But who can plan anything right now?
The All Blacks don’t want our sympathy. As a group the players want to send out a message that they are incredibly grateful to have an opportunity to play for their country at this time. They know that their problems are trivial compared to so many people who are stuck with nowhere to go or are unable to visit dying relatives because of the chaotic MIQ system.
The All Blacks have found they are treated like the rest of us when it comes to getting a quarantine place to re-enter the country. That at least is a relief to the many of us who have been treated so shamefully by a system playing the lottery in the graveyard of people’s lives.
I have seven blood relatives. One died two weeks ago. One has a terminal disease. One is receiving medical assistance for a dangerous condition. My wife and I are desperate to support the family. They are in England, we have chosen to live in New Zealand.
Not only was our request for an MIQ place on compassionate grounds turned down, it involved a long and stressful wait for a decision that was eventually taken less than 48 hours before we were due to fly, and after the deadline to get a pre-departure Covid test.
There are so many stories like ours that the ombudsman can no longer cope with the sheer volume of complaints. The government should be ashamed of themselves for presiding over such a system.
It is difficult to hear the prime minister ask people to be kind to each other when her own officials are so lacking in such feeling. But for those of us so badly let down by the system, we are thankful the All Blacks are mature enough to realise the situation and so are standing in line like anyone else.
Two of the New Zealand squad who played in the second Bledisloe match are similarly wracked with anxiety, hoping that they might win the MIQ lottery, because their wives are expecting babies in mid-November. As things stand the pair are unlikely to travel to the northern hemisphere for matches against Wales, Ireland, Italy and France, as they won’t be able to reenter the country.
Management asked if they could swap a place with cricket, shift one of their own dates, or trade in a place because they might have a surplus. All those requests were turned down.
The only answer to all these problems is love and compassion and understanding for each other. So let’s be kind. And that includes government officials. It is long past the time when they should have overhauled MIQ and created a fair and compassionate system. So Jacinda, practise what you preach.
A little kindness would go a long way. It might even help the All Blacks win a test match.