Officials reverse decision to allow Kiwi with cancer MIQ spot

MIQ have reversed a decision which would have left a dying Kiwi stranded in Japan.

Japan-based Trev Ponting has terminal brain cancer, and all he wants is to get home to see his mother.

But when an application for emergency spots in managed isolation was made for the 46-year-old, his wife Aiko and their two young children, it was turned down yesterday.

The decision prompted a plea for help from his Christchurch-based family, particularly after it emerged children's entertainment group The Wiggles had hurriedly been granted MIQ spots for 12 of their crew ahead of a nationwide tour.

"I couldn't believe it," sister Yvonne Ponting said.

"This is New Zealand - we care about each other in this country."

But tonight MIQ reversed the decision, and granted the emergency application, Newshub reported.

Ponting had previously been rejected a spot in MIQ, something which would dash the final wishes of him and his family in New Zealand, plus his friends in Japan. Then the application for emergency spots was turned down also.

Her brother, who has lived in Japan for 20 years, had told them his dying wish was "to be with his mum", Yvonne Ponting said.

""He has said to us: 'I just want to be with my mum'."