MP applied twice for emergency MIQ spot
Green MP Ricardo Mene´ndez March twice sought an emergency room allocation in the managed isolation system, the second time for ‘‘national interest’’ reasons.
Mene´ ndez March travelled to Mexico over summer to see his stepmother, who has aggressive breast cancer, and sought an emergency allocation when returning in January with his partner, who had obtained a visa to enter New Zealand.
Stuff reported in early February that Mene´ndez March was denied an emergency allocation by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), which he said he applied for when exploring his options to return to New Zealand.
National Party MP Chris Bishop yesterday revealed that Mene´ndez March had applied twice for emergency room allocation – the first time as someone who provided a ‘‘critical public or health service’’, and the second as someone who was required for ‘‘national security’’ or ‘‘national interest’’ reasons.
Bishop obtained the information through a written parliamentary question put to Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins.
The first application was made on January 13, and the second two days later. Both were declined by MBIE.
National leader Judith Collins cast doubt on whether the Green MP should have considered himself suitable for emergency allocation.
‘‘It’s the applying twice and claiming to be critical to New Zealand ... I’m not sure that he’s either,’’ she said.
Mene´ndez March said he made two applications because the emergency allocation application accommodated only broad, vague categories of occupation.
‘‘The categories to me were quite similar in nature. It was the vagueness of the nature of those definitions that was the consideration for applying for both of them.’’
He said there was public interest in ensuring he received no special treatment, which was shown earlier in the month, when it was reported that the application had been denied.
The National Party had a right to ask questions, he said.
‘‘I’m not aware of the political nature or political intent behind it ... I’ve always tried to make myself as open as I can . . . to speak to people who might have these queries.’’