Time to open maritime borders

With New Zealand’s borders now open to international air travel, it’s time to open our maritime borders too, writes Alisha King, chief executive of New Zealand-based superyacht agency Tidal Yachting Ltd.

New Zealand’s summer season runs from October to March, with small craft, including super yachts and pleasure craft, sailing here to avoid the South Pacific cyclone season.

With the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, changes were put in place to update the arrivals process for these small craft. Like many marine businesses, contractors, service providers and suppliers, this has impacted the maritime sector hugely, as we have seen with other industries such as tourism and film.

Due to the requirements in place for these small craft to enter our borders, the numbers of entries have been exceptionally low, thus impacting many clients and service-based companies. The Marine Industry Association has been advocating for the sea-borders to re-open ever since they closed. 

Each year Customs works with other government agencies and ports to plan for the summer arrival of small craft into New Zealand. With the next summer season approaching quickly, and as this summer draws to a close, many agents and marine companies remain optimistic and urge that the border opening be reviewed. 

With the New Zealand air borders now open to Australia, why aren't our maritime borders following suit? 

With companies and services in place to aid these vessels entering the country and to follow regulations, we can help alleviate the pressure on other agencies, ports, and the vessel owners themselves. Opening lines of communication and ensuring procedures are followed is needed.

We’ve become very good at helping owners and vessel representatives navigate the red tape, but it’s about time we are able to say, 'yes New Zealand’s borders are open.' 

Australia, Tahiti, and Fiji borders are now open and promoting entry with government support. These countries are taking the vessels that would usually frequent the beautiful shores of New Zealand. And we are ready to welcome them back.

People often comment about why we are helping the rich and luxurious enter the country, but when people question this, they don’t realise the amount of money just one yacht (super yacht or not) entering our borders spends, and what that puts back not only into our industry, but industries like hospitality, tourism and the refit and refurbishment sector.

Tidal Yachting works behind the scenes with local service providers as the shore-based agent for these visiting yachts. Providing services through these local service providers such as concierge, provisioning, maintenance and refit, voyage preparation and all border entry requirements. 

We have seen the refit and refurbishment facilities here in New Zealand escalate their growth, services and staff during the lockdown. With the pre-emption of a prosperous return from yachts and travelling small craft, New Zealand has some of the best maritime contractors and service providers in the world, and we need to be back on the map as an option.

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