Green Party list MP Ricardo Menéndez March says he travelled to Mexico to visit his terminally ill step-mother and father who is recovering from major surgery.
Green Party list MP Ricardo Menéndez March went to Tijuana at the end of last year for a "serious family matter". Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
The list MP - who grew up in Tijuana - returned to New Zealand on 1 February and is in managed isolation after seven weeks abroad.
That is despite the official advice on the government's SafeTravel website which urges all New Zealanders to remain in the country.
In a statement on Facebook, Menéndez March said he returned to visit his step-mother who has been given a terminal breast cancer diagnosis and his father who is recovering from major surgery.
Menéndez March said his trip recieved the blessing of Green party co-leader Marama Davidson and party whip Jan Logie.
He said he had planned to go to Mexico earlier but had to delay it after becoming a member of Parliament.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson earlier told reporters she and chief whip Jan Logie had granted Menéndez March permission to travel overseas.
"It was a serious family matter," Davidson said. "He had to make that decision... a tough decision, but it was a serious family matter."
Fellow co-leader James Shaw declined to offer any further details as to the nature of the incident.
Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"I don't feel it's my place to disclose what is going on inside Ricardo's family. It's not really my business to do that," Shaw said.
"Ultimately, I have to take him at his word. If he says there is a very serious family situation, which he has described to us, I take him at his word."
Shaw said Menéndez March had received no special treatment and went through the same process as all other New Zealanders.
In mid-January, Menéndez March contacted the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) from Mexico to apply for an emergency spot in managed isolation (MIQ) which would have allowed him to return to the country earlier.
MBIE chief executive Carolyn Tremain ultimately declined the request but first contacted both Shaw and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins.
"What I said was: under no circumstances should he get special treatment," Shaw said.
Hipkins said he similarly steered clear of the case: "I indicated that I was not going to get involved in that decision-making process in any way."
The government-run MIQ system has come under increasing strain in recent months with New Zealanders abroad struggling to secure spots in order to return home.
MBIE declined to comment on the case, citing "privacy reasons".
National Party leader Judith Collins said she would not have allowed any of her caucus to travel overseas at the moment.
"They understand there are no special rules for them," she said. "I think MPs have to set a better example."
National Party leader Judith Collins says she's got questions about whether the matter was handled appropriately. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Collins said she still had major questions about whether the Greens had handled the matter appropriately.
"It certainly reeks of disconnection with every other New Zealander who has to miss out on... spending time with their families."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she would expect her Labour MPs to adhere to the same requirements which apply to all New Zealanders.
"It is fair to say we would hold a very, very high bar for anyone in our team leaving New Zealand right now - a very high bar indeed," she told reporters.
"We haven't had a situation or circumstance that has justified that at this stage."
ACT leader David Seymour declined to criticise Menéndez March, saying he did not know all the circumstances surrounding the travel.
"I'd be very hesitant to judge the guy. I just hope that the family emergency has been resolved," he said.
"I hope he gets time to do lots of reading in his isolation."
RNZ has approached Menéndez March for comment.