New Zealand to ease coronavirus border rules after row over exemption to ‘Avatar’ crew

Director James Cameron and a crew of 55 were let into the country last month to film an Avatar sequel

The exemption prompted complaints from those who remained shut out by New Zealand’s border closure

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Published: 6:00am, 13 Jun 2020Updated: 7:01am, 13 Jun 2020

New Zealand will ease its coronavirus border controls, the government said on Friday, after a decision to let Hollywood director James Cameron into the country to film an Avatar sequel prompted anger over double standards.

Cameron and a crew of 55 arrived in Wellington from Los Angeles last month after receiving special permission to enter the country to film the sequel to his 2009 mega-hit.

The exemption prompted complaints from those who remained shut out by New Zealand’s border closure, including a father from Hong Kong who missed the birth of his first child.

New Zealand closed its border to non-citizens and non-residents in March, and this week announced it had no active Covid-19 cases and had eliminated transmission of the virus.

Director James Cameron (L) and US producer Jon Landau arrive at Wellington airport to resume the filming of the Avatar sequels. Photo: Reuters

Businesses had pointed to inconsistencies in the way the rules were applied, with Avatar workers allowed in because of the film industry’s economic clout but crews from the money-spinning America’s Cup yachting regatta barred.

“There are double standards here. It’s totally unfair and damaging New Zealand’s reputation,” New Zealand Association of Migration and Investment chairwoman June Ranson told RNZ at the time.