| NZ Govt slays Le Laperouse season

AS hinted at yesterday by New Zealand Minister of Tourism Stuart Nash (CW yesterday), Ponant’s NZ cruise season has been terminated, following the Government’s shock decision to deny entry to Le Laperouse (CW breaking news yesterday).

The denial of visas for 61 of the 90 crew members aboard Le Laperouse meant Ponant was forced to cancel the entire season of seven fully booked expedition voyages within the country, for New Zealanders only.

The Department of Immigration (INZ) declined to approve the visas, even after a detailed application submitted by Ponant in Oct was approved by the Ministry of Health in mid-Dec.

The application detailed the numbers and nationalities of the crew members to arrive on Le Laperouse, but Immigration declined it apparently on the basis they are non-essential workers, such as hairdressers, bartenders and masseuses, whose onboard jobs could be done by New Zealanders.

Le Laperouse and her crew went through multiple testing protocols, and travelled almost 4,000 nautical miles from her anchorage in Indonesia to New Zealand, where the country’s health officials were scheduled to test all crew members upon arrival on 30 Jan.

However, Ponant said it was advised by Immigration three days before reaching New Zealand’s shores the visa applications were declined, and that Le Laperouse should turn around and go elsewhere.

“This forced cancellation is devastating not only to Ponant, but it will disrupt the travel plans of some 650 New Zealanders, cause up to NZ$6 million in direct economic loss to food, beverage, ground operator SMEs across the country supplying the vessel, eliminate income (again) from the New Zealand travel agency community, and be devastating to 16 Kiwis contracted to work onboard for two months, to lose their income,” Ponant said.

“Worryingly, this decision by INZ places great uncertainty about the future for not only the high yielding expedition cruise sector but to the NZ$670 million economic benefit the cruise industry generates for the country.

“Ponant has invested millions of dollars promoting New Zealand internationally, and operating in NZ seasonally for the past 7 years.

“We hope there is a quick review of the processes for expedition ships to operate in New Zealand and that the 2021-2022 season can be saved.”