Family of New Zealand man Trevor Ponting dying of brain cancer 'ecstatic' at MIQ U-turn

The family of the Kiwi in Japan dying of brain cancer is over the moon the government did a U-turn on its decision to not grant him an emergency bed in managed isolation.

Trevor Ponting wants to die back in New Zealand surrounded by family and now he'll get his wish.

Yvonne Ponting had a friend over today, celebrating their success of pushing back against the government.

"[We're] ecstatic, relieved and ecstatic," she says. "We're going to bring him home."

Yvonne's brother Trevor is in Japan dying from brain cancer and trying to come home with his wife and children to New Zealand.

Managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) initially denied the outdoor adventurer an emergency bed in managed isolation, saying it wasn't a medical emergency. On the same day they granted 12 beds to The Wiggles from Australia.

But late on Saturday the Government changed its mind. The family in Japan got a phone call from MIQ with the good news.

"The thought did cross their mind that it could be a prank so they asked for an email," Yvonne says.

As soon as Yvonne heard the news she sprinted down the road to tell her mum and dad.

"Jumped off the couch and hands on their face and saying 'have we done it, have we done it' and tears flowed," Yvonne says.

Trevor's dying wish was to be with his mum, who was terrified she might never see him again after MIQ's decision.

"She's busying herself for the arrival, she's still super-emotional," Yvonne says.

Trevor himself is over the moon.

"He was really emotional," Yvonne says.

MIQ told the family it had "re-reviewed" the decision. In a statement to Newshub it said: "150 rooms per fortnight are set aside for those who need to travel urgently and that priority is given to NZ citizens or residents where a serious risk to health exists for the applicant."

"I hope that there's changes made and that other people can get a positive result like we have and I don't think anyone sick or dying should have to go through what we've been through," Yvonne says.

Now Yvonne's hoping that bringing her brother home and surrounding him with family and love will prolong the two or so months he's been told he might have left to live.

"I'm going for years," Yvonne says.