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The crew of a German yacht that sailed to New Zealand breaking the country’s Covid-19 border restrictions are still in police custody as they continue to wait for the flight home.
An engagement warrant hearing was held today and the court granted INZ permission to detain the crew until Friday.
The crew, aged between 20 and 30, were intercepted by New Zealand Customs on Friday afternoon as they headed for Opua.
New Zealand Customs had been alerted that the ship was still planning to violate New Zealand’s border restrictions after the Ministry of Health denied it waiver visas.
Peter Elms, New Zealand’s national manager for immigration, border and visa operations, said the German nationals were taken to Auckland, where they are being held in police custody.
Arrangements are being made to send them home, but limited flights out of New Zealand due to Covid-19 meant it could take a few days for the trio to depart, he said.
The 16-meter vessel named Anita was transferred Friday from the quarantine pier to another pier at Opua Marina on Friday, where it remains while New Zealand Customs conducts an investigation.
A spokesman for New Zealand Customs said the vessel was responsible for the seizure and duty to pay taxes under the Customs and Excise Act and was under the control of Customs pending further investigation and evaluation. At this stage, the term of the investigation was unknown.
The arrival of the yacht caused a stir in the quiet town of Bay of Islands.
Residents of houses overlooking the bay saw the yacht arriving Friday afternoon with a yellow flag on its mast indicating it was from abroad.
An Opua resident, who did not want to be identified, was at the marina when the yacht, named Anita, arrived around 3 p.m. escorted by patrol boat Hawk V.
The crew did not hide the arrival of the yacht with its yellow maritime flag, he said. The flag was used to indicate that a ship was free of quarantinable diseases and to request boarding and inspection.
There was a large crowd gathered at the marina, including customs officers, three police cars, and a pop-up Covid testing station.
“There were a lot of police and customs at the marina … there were definitely a lot more people than there usually are.”
The resident said that when the borders were opened, Opua received many yachts from abroad as it was their first stop, but this year very few boats had arrived, especially with the yellow flag. Usually they went through customs and then headed towards Whangarei and further south.
Another local said that everything happened quite quickly and that they did not see the three crew members on the yacht at the marina.
While no charges have been brought against the crew, Immigration NZ has said that refusal to enter New Zealand could have long-term consequences. Your visa exemption status could be suspended and it could affect your ability to travel to other countries.
The Health Ministry confirmed over the weekend that all three had tested negative for Covid-19 and had been isolated on the ship for more than 14 days.
Under current regulations, foreign cargo or fishing vessels can enter New Zealand. Any other vessel must receive an exemption from the director general of health. The reason had to be compelling, such as refueling, refueling, or handing over to a company for repair or overhaul. Waivers could also be granted for humanitarian reasons, but are unlikely to be granted solely for financial losses or for vessels wishing to dock during the Pacific cyclone season.
READ MORE:
• Coronavirus Covid-19: Three German citizens detained in the Bay of Islands after breaking Covid-19 border controls
• Covid 19 coronavirus: German border intruders in police custody before hearing
• Covid 19 coronavirus: German protesters from the confinement perform ‘haka’
• German dog owners are required to walk dogs twice a day, under controversial new law
