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Have we just shot ourselves in the foot when it comes to any potential cruises to New Zealand?
The cruise line Ponant was yesterday turned away by the government after being denied visas, and since then they have scrapped the seven other fully booked cruises they had.
Ponant says they were given the all clear to come to NZ.
New Zealand Cruise Association Chief Executive, Kevin O'Sullivan said he was "sad" and "extremely disappointed" in this outcome.
The cancellation of these sailings not only undermined the last 6-months' work by NZCA to establish domestic only sailing, but years the association has spent building New Zealand as a cruise destination.
"We had hoped that Le Lapérouse was the start of something bigger, a chance to show cruising around New Zealand was both safe and secure."
O'Sullivan said that INZ's decision to refuse visas to hotel staff was "huge barrier" .
"These [roles] are highly specialised even though they have some relation to jobs on shore, and require maritime training."
He said that there was plenty of time to raise concerns about earlier during the whole of government approach, "not what we regard as the last moment to produce this significant barrier to bringing the cruise ship to New Zealand."
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