The New Zealand government has agreed to border exemptions for foreign-flagged vessels with maintenance and refit booked in NZ.

Economic Development Minister Phil Twyford and Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway today announced some key changes to border restrictions including NZ Marine’s request for commercial vessels and superyachts with maintenance and refit work to be allowed to enter NZ.

“I am appreciative of the Minister of Economic Development Hon Phil Twyford and Minister of Immigration Hon Iain Lees-Galloway listening to us and understanding the significant economic gain for the NZ marine industry, and country as a whole, from commercial vessels and superyachts being allowed to visit New Zealand for maintenance and refit purposes,” says NZ Marine executive director Peter Busfield.

He added that NZ Marine were very appreciative of the many marine industry companies, organisations and government departments that assisted them in representing their case to Cabinet and gaining the above border exemptions.

“Thousands of marine industry tradespeople refitting and maintaining visiting vessels, particularly in regions of Far North, Northland, Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Nelson, Marlborough and Lyttelton, can now be assured that business will be coming their way over the next few months,” says Busfield.

Refit and servicing vessels contributes 25% of the NZ$2bn marine industry and we now look forward to growing this important sector.

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. This exception will not apply to cruise ships, which remain prohibited from entering New Zealand territory, or people travelling for leisure.

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