21 Oct 2020

Covid-19: Eleven fishermen test positive in Christchurch, 14 more under investigation

From Morning Report, 7:09 am on 21 October 2020

The government says it has no plans to stop a further planeload of Russian and Ukrainian fishers coming to New Zealand.

That's despite 11 of the fishing crew testing positive for Covid-19 in Christchurch yesterday.

Nearly 240 arrived on Friday on a chartered flight from Moscow.

A second chartered flight is due to arrive in early November but Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi says no changes to those visa exemptions are being considered.

Sealord is one of three fishing companies that brought the fishing crews in. 

Its chief executive Doug Paulin says the workers are essential.

Sealord is one of three fishing companies that brought the fishing crews  in. 

Its chief executive Doug Paulin told Checkpoint additional costs managing the cases will be borne by those companies, rather than the taxpayer and this proves you can safely bring in essential foreign workers. 

Paulin says there are 30 to 40 vacancies across its fleet.