Yachties Stuck In New Zealand - Facing Expulsion

[grantmc]

As many of you will know, New Zealand attracts hundreds of cruisers each year during the Southern Hemisphere Hurricane Season. So hundreds that arrived last Nov/Dec didn't leave again in May/June as would be expected given that virtually every Island nation had closed borders.

And with the next Hurricane Season approaching many are reluctant to leave. Yet their visitor visas for NZ are running out. The NZ Govt has so far resisted the pleas to extend visas and make a special case for cruising yachts.

There's also the problem of the many hundreds of cruisers that have been stuck all over the South Pacific and want to find safe haven in NZ before the next Hurricane Season starts in December, but New Zealand's borders are firmly shut to non NZ citizens and residents.

Here's a recent article that discusses the issue many of you will find interesting.

In my own view it's very unlikely NZ will open the border to cruisers. Two problems.

1. The vast majority of the population are terrified of Covid and any suggestion here in NZ of opening the borders brings a tirade of abuse. 'Team NZ' gave up much (and continues to do so) to keep the disease out.

2. NZ is about to hold a general election. Neither of the two main parties will be campaigning to 'open' the border even a crack. It would be election suicide.

I think thought that the NZ Govt will extend visas for those already in the country on humanitarian grounds. As well as sailors, there are thousands of back packers, ordinary travelers and seasonal workers stuck here, in the same boat as it were.