[ad_1]
At least five wealthy sponsors from America’s Cup challenging teams are struggling to enter the country in time to see their yachts race.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, left, and Patrizio Bertelli are believed to be among sponsors eager to visit Auckland for the America’s Cup.
Photo: AFP
Information provided to RNZ shows that the owners of Italian team Luna Rossa, British team Ineos and American Magic have received border waivers, but they are not here yet.
It is understood that they have not been able to access the vouchers to stay in managed isolation hotels.
The five owners, three from American Magic, one from Ineos and one from Luna Rossa, are now waiting for government intervention.
Immigration New Zealand says all five received visas several months ago.
But they are already missing the start of the races as teams battle for the right to face champion Team New Zealand for the coveted Auld Mug next March.
America’s Cup Minister Stuart Nash said his staff is working on it.
“We understand that the owners have invested a significant amount of money here, so it is a very good balancing act to do this right. Serving the needs of Kiwis abroad who want to go home, but also ensuring that the men and women who have invested millions of dollars in this can participate. “
Anyone entering the country must remain in a government-run isolation or quarantine facility; private yachts are not yet available.
“We have really resisted the custom quarantine. That is what happened in Melbourne, and if we are not in control of this and something happens, it will be the government to blame.”
He did not want to expand the options for homeowners to enter the country.
“We are having conversations; I’ll leave it at that. No promises can be made and MIQ is incredibly full at the moment, but we are having conversations.”
Immigration New Zealand said Hap Fauth, Doug De Vos and Roger Penske were included in American Magic’s request for a border exception in the category of “other essential worker.”
US President Donald Trump, right, presents Roger Penske with the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House in October 2019.
Photo: AFP
This was approved by the ministers in June.
Applications from Luna Rossa team principal Patrizio Bertelli and Ineos owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe were approved in July and November, respectively.
Immigration would not provide more information for privacy reasons, and the teams did not comment on the movements of their owners.
Patrizio Bertelli and Grant Dalton (file image).
Photo: Photosport
Families who cannot visit at Christmas
Others already here will spend Christmas separated from their families due to border restrictions.
Luna Rossa’s spokesperson, Francesco Longanesi Cattani, said her teenage daughter cannot come to Aotearoa.
“These regulations are there to protect the country from the pandemic and have proven to be very successful, so I think it is a small sacrifice to spend a Christmas without our families, but I think it is the price we have to pay for this. Quality of life . “
Cattani said he is one of many whose relatives cannot enter the country.
“The situation, especially at Christmas, is difficult for everyone, for all challengers, because here we are living in heaven. It is a fantastic quality of life compared to Europe.”
Luna Rossa in the water in Auckland.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Those who made it here consider themselves lucky.
American Magic boss Terry Hutchinson said they put all of their equipment on a ship with no guarantees that they would enter New Zealand.
“It all worked up to a point, and having gotten over the managed isolation, at this point, he couldn’t have found nicer people to help him through a really tough time, so in that sense, I think we’re all incredibly lucky.”
