Denying visas to most of the crew on a luxury ship and warning it off entering New Zealand waters with the threat of imprisonment was the right thing to do according to immigration's border boss, who has reviewed the Department's handling of the case.
Le Laperouse was left in limbo at sea and eventually had to abandon plans to spend the cruise season operating out of Aotearoa after 61 of its 90 crew were refused visas because they are not considered essential workers.
That's even though the ship itself has been granted an exemption to dock here.
Immigration National manager - border, Peter Elms says when the cruise ship kept coming Immigration wrote to the boat's owners explaining the legal consequences of entering New Zealand waters.
