British family whose son died at sea praises Jacinda Ardern for reversing the decision to enter New Zealand

The UK family initially refused entry to New Zealand after their son’s death at sea and praised Jacinda Ardern’s kindness after she stepped in to help reverse the decision.

Barbara Genda, Harry Jarman and their 13-year-old daughter Amelie received a trade exemption at the New Zealand maritime border from the Ministry of Health last week.

The decision was a U-turn by New Zealand authorities after the family was denied a waiver to enter the border in October after the death of their 14-year-old son Eddie in French Polynesia. in April.

The family had applied for a humanitarian exemption to enter New Zealand in order to sell their yacht in which they had been living on a trip around the world.

The family needed to sell the $ 1 million yacht in order to have capital to buy a home in Sussex, and it was extremely difficult to find a buyer in French Polynesia.

But after the Weekend Herald reported on the family’s situation on October 10, the prime minister stepped in to ask for a review of their case.

Barbara Genda said last week that the border waiver finally arrived, after New Zealand authorities asked them to reapply.

“Commendations and thanks go to your Prime Minister and the NZ Herald who were willing to listen to our story,” Genda said from a remote area of ​​the Society Islands where they are floating.

“We are very grateful for the opportunity to sell the boat in New Zealand to bring it to the burgeoning New Zealand market. We received more than ‘little kindness’ from the authorities in their compassionate but practical attitude towards our case.

Genda said some documentation hurdles are still required before the family can enter New Zealand, including entry visas, but they hope it’s just formalities.

They must also apply for New Zealand customs clearance to allow a formal sale here.

“We are hopeful of a quick sale and we already have some interest from a buyer. We are committed to the sale and have just lowered the price to $ 950,000, which is the lowest priced boat on the market for a brand and comparable model, “Genda said.

As the family requests the documents, they also fight a legal battle in French Polynesia to prosecute the person accused of murder who was driving the speedboat that struck and killed their son Eddie.

“However, we have a more urgent problem here in French Polynesia, where the homicide case is not progressing favorably,” Genda said.

“We may need to stay a bit longer until some progress is made and we can be sure that justice will be served for our son. This may delay our departure until December.

“Our great concern is to make sure that the criminal case against the driver who killed our son is not forgotten in French Polynesia as soon as we get out of here.

“We are determined to seek justice for our son whose death was so foolish and preventable.”