During the global COVID-19 pandemic, Brown used a private jet to dodge the mandatory New Zealand quarantine. During this time, 112 other international diplomats used the government run quarantine facilities, which were temporarily housed in New Zealand hotels, to spend 14 days in monitored quarantine, but Brown's group of 6 did not. Brown's flouting of the uniform quarantine – partly credited with keeping New Zealand mostly Covid-19 free – caused a furor as was made known after Brown had returned from a "working holiday" in the US. The incident has upset many New Zealanders with what is described as "special treatment."