New Zealand Immigration Officer Making Wild Claims

[RaymondR]

A comment on the wisdom of governments.

I live in a country where by an act of self indulgent, political, ratbaggery, thousands of people were induced to put to sea in unseaworthy vessels without any effective safety equipment to the joy and benefit of numerous, heartless, criminal organizations. This was a deliberate act which sabotaged a previous policy which over a number of years had been demonstrated to work very effectively. This change in policy has lead to the perishing at sea of almost one thousand persons since the change was made and in spite of much criticism said government will still not admit to it's mistake and reinstate the old, effective policy. Are these the sort of people we want dictating our behavior in relation to safety of life at sea?

On the 96 hour rule.

This regulation was used to prosecute a Dutch couple who had taken the trouble to ascertain the requirements at an Australian embassy in the South Pacific and been misdirected. If you look at the wording in the previous post you may notice that it requires a communication system of some sort not generally found on most cruising vessels and is obviously framed with only the resources of comparatively large commercial organizations in mind. It was part of the massive assumption of powers grasped by organs (a Stalinist term) of the state when given the excuse of the 911 terrorist incident.

[RaymondR]

For those interested in the folly of governments and their lackeys.

There is a little cruising news paper published in Queensland called Coastal Passage. It appears to have taken on the task of exposing official follies in an enthusiastic manner and publishes many letters from the victims of the follies. It has a website.

[NoTies]

Ah yes, The Coastal Passage, that bastion of sanity (and tinfoil hats).
http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/Bobs_page.html

[Gutterblack]

Cut to the chase,

Its not about the US, freedoms or bureaucracy, this is a single hander that is by all accounts a floating garbage dump or at best very poorly maintained.

We have an international obligation to rescue this guy if he gets in trouble i.e. s30-50-100 thousand NZ taxpayers dollars plus unnecessarily risking other lives in the process.

This is not an average cruiser, this guy is in rebel mode- he looks, walks it and talks it. The customs officer has simply said " your boat looks unsafe and I see a lot of boats leaving opua in winter, get your sh!t together 20 something rebel dude".

[Coops]

Originally Posted by NoTies

Ah yes, The Coastal Passage, that bastion of sanity (and tinfoil hats).
http://www.thecoastalpassage.com/Bobs_page.html

Oh yes, now we are talking conspiracy theorists if we mention that "journal". More rectal than coastal.

Coops.

[RaymondR]

Yes, Bob can get a little paranoid, see the last issue where "they" have been trying to poison him for years. However he does publish the names and vessel names of those he gets the letters from and they cannot all be around-the-bend paranoid conspiracy nuts.

The real cut to the chase is that whilst there are thousands of public and private sector bureaucrats who go to work every day and do a good job on behalf of the public benefit there are also many who revel in the exercise of their two cents an hour authority and will even abuse it for purposes of self gratification.

[surfingminniwinni]

Originally Posted by Coops

Oh yes, now we are talking conspiracy theorists if we mention that "journal". More rectal than coastal.

Coops.

I think we could have a separate thread for the coastal passage

[Coops]

Let's not, the less said the better.

Coops.

[banaari]

Originally Posted by RaymondR

I live in a country where by an act of self indulgent, political, ratbaggery, thousands of people were induced to put to sea in unseaworthy vessels without any effective safety equipment to the joy and benefit of numerous, heartless, criminal organizations. This was a deliberate act which sabotaged a previous policy which over a number of years had been demonstrated to work very effectively. This change in policy has lead to the perishing at sea of almost one thousand persons since the change was made and in spite of much criticism said government will still not admit to it's mistake and reinstate the old, effective policy. Are these the sort of people we want dictating our behavior in relation to safety of life at sea?

At the risk of thread drift, care to explain? Which country, what policies?

[Albro359]

Seems most of these captains are sitting in armchairs in front of the fire...cosy...but not real.
Get out there !
There's a 70ft schooner NINA missing off New Zealand...famous boat...presumed sunk...Orions found no trace of the yacht, liferaft or debris today...that's the real situation...man, wife, son and crew...seems that maybe the boat broke up in heavy seas ... serious boat...great shame...we live and hope

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by Albro359

Seems most of these captains are sitting in armchairs in front of the fire...cosy...but not real.
Get out there !
There's a 70ft schooner NINA missing off New Zealand...famous boat...presumed sunk...Orions found no trace of the yacht, liferaft or debris today...that's the real situation...man, wife, son and crew...seems that maybe the boat broke up in heavy seas ... serious boat...great shame...we live and hope

??? What has Nina got to do with it? Even comparing the 2 beggars belief.

[NoTies]

Originally Posted by banaari

At the risk of thread drift, care to explain? Which country planet, what policies?

Sorted after quoting TCP as a source

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Albro359

Seems most of these captains are sitting in armchairs in front of the fire...cosy...but not real.

Let's hope they have their extinguisher and fire blanket within easy reach.
The armchair will need to metal with no flammable foam, or material.
Eye protection, and leather gloves will be worn at all times and only certified firewood should be used. The availability of breathing equipment is strongly recommended, but is not compulsory at this stage.

Of course before leaving the house they will obtain the mandatory house leaving certificate, following a thorough inspection by the relevant government body to make sure no external hazards are present and that suitable safety equipment is carried for the intended journey,

No doubt some irresponsible people think these simple measures are unnecessary. I would remind them that firemen and ambulance drivers will be risking their lives in the event of an accident

[Albro359]

Originally Posted by NoTies

??? What has Nina got to do with it? Even comparing the 2 beggars belief.

Just seems a little more serious and REAL cf with some idiot with POT plants and bamboo sticks...

[Albro359]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

Let's hope they have their extinguisher and fire blanket within easy reach.
The armchair will need to metal with no flammable foam, or material.
Eye protection, and leather gloves will be worn at all times and only certified firewood should be used. The availability of breathing equipment is strongly recommended, but is not compulsory at this stage.

Of course before leaving the house they will obtain the mandatory house leaving certificate, following a thorough inspection by the relevant government body to make sure no external hazards are present and that suitable safety equipment is carried for the intended journey,

No doubt some irresponsible people think these simple measures are unnecessary. I would remind them that firemen and ambulance drivers will be risking their lives in the event of an accident

And one day we will all have to have yellow lines marked on our decks to delineate no-go areas !!