NZ Government blocks Ponant season

THE New Zealand Cruise Association (NZCA) says a decision by Immigration NZ (INZ) to prevent Ponant’s Le Laperouse from operating her planned upcoming domestic program (CW 04 Jan) is a “huge backwards step for New Zealand cruise”.

The shock announcement, which came just over a week before the planned 08 Feb season start, has come despite extensive negotiations to gain approvals from the Ministry of Health.

“At the extremely last minute, Immigration NZ has now denied entry for some of the ship’s crew who they have deemed to be non-essential,” said NZCA Chief Executive Officer Kevin O’Sullivan.

The regulator has denied visas to 61 of the 90 crew on the ship and blocked its entry into New Zealand waters, with Minister of Immigration Kris Faafoi saying the impacted staff include “hairdressers, bartenders and masseuses”.

Critical worker visas were granted for 29 officers and engineers, but the remainder of the hospitality crew must come from New Zealand, INZ said.

The ship had continued to steam towards New Zealand despite two visa applications being denied, Faafoi said, stressing that due to COVID-19, “our border is closed”.

“NZ citizens and residents are the only people we will let into New Zealand...those that have come without visas have been turned around, and that is what will happen to those on board.”

The Minister said clear border processes were in place, but Wild Earth Travel, the NZ firm which had chartered the ship to operate the season had “begun marketing and selling cruises before the process played out...I can charitably call that unwise”.

“Getting ahead of those processes creates risk for businesses and for people and that has occurred in this case.”

It’s understood that Ponant has been engaged in urgent talks to resolve the issue, with the cruise line’s Asia Pacific Chair Sarina Bratton confirming “we have informed INZ that we will try to identify some local NZ citizens who could perform some hotel department roles on board”.

She also noted the crew has multiple certifications including roles ensuring operational safety, and that 14 New Zealand residents had also already been contracted for the season including naturalists, musicians and a nurse.

“We remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement with INZ to allow our ship to deliver the expedition experiences,” she said.