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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Time is running out for more than 300 yachts in the South Pacific that have been denied entry to New Zealand to seek shelter from the cyclone season.
The Ocean Cruising Club has been lobbying the government since April, but under Covid-19 restrictions, the cyclone shelter is not seen as a reason for the border exemption.
Guy Chester, a wandering rear commodore at the club, has been fighting for hundreds of people to have a safe place to spend the season.
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He said that in June they were told there would be a border waiver process for humanitarian and compelling reasons.
But last week they discovered that the cyclone shelter was not included.
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Ocean Cruising Club Guy Chester rear commodore.
Chester said they felt betrayed by the government.
“Our time is up,” he said.
The club had been working with New Zealand health processes, speaking with officials, Chester said.
“Now we have the situation where we were just told that the cyclone shelter is not a compelling reason and no waivers will be granted, in which case, it is vital now.”
The cyclone season begins Nov. 1, but with most ships 2-6 weeks away from safety, it has now reached a critical point, he said.
“I am distraught, I have been working on behalf of all the yachts and I feel a great responsibility for the safety of people, and we do not have a solution.
“I feel betrayed because I was telling people ‘look what’s coming, but don’t panic yet, we have a letter that says everything is going to be fine, they’re just trying to put everything in order,'” he said. .
Chester said boaters understand that New Zealand is trying to protect itself from the virus and that the club had developed an isolation plan for several berths in the north.
But he said he was dismayed because the government said a process was coming, when in reality that process did not apply to them.
“We have families with young children, and we have people who are panicking because they are going to be trapped in an area prone to cyclones.”
“People just don’t know what to do.”
Chester said, none of this was by choice, when these people left, they didn’t know there was going to be a global pandemic.
He said there are now hundreds of people, desperate and without safe options.
Both the Ministry and the Minister of Health were contacted for comment.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
