Wānaka ironman athlete Braden Currie’s manager has made a plea to sports minister Grant Robertson for fair treatment for all New Zealand athletes when it comes to securing a spot in managed isolation quarantine (MIQ) after competing overseas.

Sally Currie (Braden’s partner and manager) expressed her frustration with the MIQ system which allows some athletes into the country to compete in events while New Zealand’s professional athletes are not guaranteed an MIQ spot when returning home.

“I note the mainstream team sports are granted MIQ spots frequently to travel. I do not note any fringe sports outside of rugby, cricket and netball being offered the same concessions,” Sally said.

She said the system is selective about who or what teams or individuals are able to utilise it, and is concerned about “the obvious lack of inclusion to all NZ high performance athletes”.

Despite not knowing when he could return, Braden decided to travel to  Europe to compete, saying if he couldn’t travel he didn’t know when he could compete again, raising the possibility of retirement.

“All of the other athletes in his sport (who do not live in NZ) are... racing each other and the sport is continuing regardless of Covid,” Sally said.

Grant Robertson’s sport and recreation private secretary Jack Lane told Sally the minister does not decide which sports teams/people can enter New Zealand; that decision is made by the border exception ministers’ group.

“Yes, some sports people and teams have been able to enter New Zealand. We have a group allocation system which is agreed several months in advance of international teams coming to New Zealand to compete, or returning New Zealand athletes coming back home,” Jack said.

“This strictly limited group allocation is separate from the public MIQ system and is open to a number of disciplines and set criteria not limited to sports teams.”

Sally has now asked the minister for the system to include all New Zealand high performance athletes departing and returning.

“It’s a fair and reasonable request and allows for future planning for MIQ spaces,” Sally said.

Braden competed at Challenge Roth in Germany on Monday finishing 7th in the Challenge Roth Long Distance Triathlon.

PHOTO: Neil Kerr