Bereaved family seeking NZ yacht sale options

WELLINGTON: A grieving UK family wanting to sell their 17m yacht in New Zealand could have it imported here — but it would cost them tens of thousands of dollars.

Barbara Genda, Harry Jarman and their two children were sailing the world when tragedy struck in Tahiti, with the death of 14yearold Eddie in August.

Their application to sail to New Zealand on humanitarian grounds was declined just under two weeks ago.

However, the Ministry of

Health said late on Wednesday it was now looking at the case as a matter of urgency, and finalising options that might be available to the family.

The family wanted the yacht sold before returning to the UK where they planned to restart their lives.

After initially being declined an exemption, they were advised on Wednesday they could submit a revised application to get their yacht to New Zealand under the ‘‘delivery to a business’’ classification.

The options available to the family might mean the yacht comes here without them.

The Auckland broker with whom the luxury yacht is listed, Conrad Gair, spoke to government officials yesterday.

Mr Gair said they were seeking a way to get the yacht — and others — into New Zealand, so they could be sold.

‘‘That’s the first positive response . . . is that they’re really working on it, and going through the systems and trying to nail down actual values to New Zealand.’’

Yachts that would traditionally sail here to be sold were not allowed in under current border restrictions, and New Zealand was missing out, he said.

‘‘If it comes to New Zealand and is sold to a New Zealander there are taxes, and taxes go into the system. There could be a brokerage fee, repair work on the boat and stuff for other trades in our industry.’’

Another option would be that the family’s yacht was sailed here by a New Zealand crew, but that came with a hefty price.

The family was currently in Tahiti, which Mr Gair said was a hugely attractive sailing area, but not ideal for trying to sell a boat.