New Zealand: Border Exemption for Foreign-Flagged Vessels with Maintenance and Refit Booked
A new maritime exception agreed by the NZ Government will allow entry to those arriving at the maritime border, where there is a compelling need for the vessel to travel to New Zealand. This exception has been extended to include yachts under 25m.
Published 4 years ago
A new maritime exception will allow entry to those arriving at the maritime border, where there is a compelling need for the vessel to travel to New Zealand. Compelling needs include vessels to be delivered for refit and repair, responding to emergency and humanitarian situations, crew changes, discharge of catch or resupply.
Most maritime journeys to New Zealand take more than 14 days so crew and others will self-isolate en-route, and won’t impact New Zealand’s quarantine capacity.
All arriving vessels will still be monitored and public health measures may still be required, for example if the journey was shorter or there is illness on board.
The new maritime exception does not support the eligibility for granting of visas and entry to foreign nationals on yachts seeking to travel to winter over in New Zealand or travelling primarily for pleasure.
The entry of a vessel and crew to New Zealand for refit and repair has been reviewed since it was first announced and expressly includes yachts under 25m. This review however is based on economic considerations and the details are still to be confirmed. A ‘compelling need’ would not cover a small repair (e.g. retouching of chrome or small paint job).
NZ Marine met with the government on Monday 29th June and are working to ensure considerations for yachts under 25m are confirmed at a suitable level.
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This information has not been independently verified.
Related to following destinations: New Zealand
Related to the following Cruising Resources: COVID-19, Global Yachting Services
On 25 June the border exemption was extended to yachts under 25m. However, they still must have a compelling need to travel to New Zealand (i.e. delivery of a vessel to a business, including for refit and repair, crew handover, response to emergency or humanitarian situations etc.). More information will be published here when available.
New Zealand Border Update – 17th June 2020
From Sail South Pacific:
I’d like to Acknowledge the hard work done by many people who have worked tirelessly to get us where we are today. Of note, the OCC (Ocean Cruising Club) thank you Fiona Jones and Guy Chester. At Noonsite, Sue Richards, Editor for the amazing work done to keep us all up to date, Thank you.
Right now between OCC and Sail South Pacific we have just under 250 boats registering their interest. In order to present the best possible case to the New Zealand government, we need you! If you’ve not already been added to the list please do so now and help us help you.
Go here [https://form.jotform.com/200217336557856?fbclid=IwAR2Ji7agB6kLe8FZs5GYMZOL13oaDX-w5i9iZue7ZUOwFKwFtsHza1lgewk] to get on the list.
At time of writing New Zealand’s borders remain closed to all but NZ Citizens and those that qualify under the exemption process.
The good news is the exemption process is constantly under review. Last Friday some of you may have heard via a news article by RNZ that the borders were opening, incorrect.
The real news is that the exemption rules were modified under review to allow Large Yachts, Commercial and Fishing Vessels that had existing bookings for maintenance and repairs to be allowed to deliver these vessels to New Zealand for the work to be carried out. As with all exemptions this is done on a case by case basis and has to be managed by an agent. No dollar value has been confirmed but it’s expected to have a few noughts on the end of it. NZ Marine and others are working closely with government to set the protocols and entitlements in place so the applications can be handled smoothly, it’s a big job.
So how does this effects the smaller Yachts under 20m?
With the work everyone has been putting in, ourselves at Sail South Pacific, the OCC plus a host of others, we are now on the governments radar, we have been the squeaky wheel. The word we are getting back is that this process, once in place, will serve well for other future exemptions and as you well know we are all pushing hard for our group.
John & Lyn Martin – Sail South Pacific
https://form.jotform.com/200217336557856