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Visiting sick family in Mexico a 'risk worth taking' - Ricardo Menéndez March

February 11, 2021

The Green MP went to Mexico to care for sick parents, and also travelled with his partner back to New Zealand.

Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March says going back to Mexico to visit sick family was a "risk worth taking".

"Like many people in this pandemic, I myself was faced with the choice of using the small break over the summer, basically the only time MPs have to visit family, to see my sick parents," he told 1 NEWS today.

"I have a very privileged position where I was able to do so and I was shown compassion and empathy by my colleagues where I was granted leave."

Menéndez March went to Mexico to care for sick parents, travelling with his partner back to New Zealand.

Ricardo Menéndez March travelled to Mexico because of a “serious family matter”.

"To me, that importance of being with family at that time meant that it was a risk worth taking. I'm thankful for the empathy that many New Zealanders have shown me for putting family first."

He said once the special request for MIQ was declined, he spent hours over days refreshing the website. 

"I count myself lucky to have found a MIQ voucher for the first of February."

He travelled to Mexico to care for his ill father and step-mother, he said.

He said his partner was from a visa-waiver country and if you are able to prove you have a genuine relationship, your partner isn't required to travel with you. 

Menéndez March said it was "unfortunate I had to go into such detail of my family, but I think it was necessary" based on the media coverage. 

"They live in a Covid hotspot and I know their lives are continually at risk."

He revealed in a Facebook post yesterday that his step-mother had suffered a relapse of her breast cancer, and his father had undergone a major operation. 

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