Director James Cameron (L) and US producer Jon Landau arrive at Wellington airport to resume the filming of the Avatar sequels. Photo: Reuters
Source:
https://scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3088883/new-zealand-ease-coronavirus-border-rules-after-row-over Australasia
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
Concept art for the new Avatar movies now filming in New Zealand. Photo: Twitter
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.
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.
Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway said on Friday that the requirement that dependents travel together with a New Zealand citizen or resident to enter the country, would be relaxed from next week.
Workers will also be allowed in if they have unique technical or specialist skills and are involved in a project of significant regional or national importance.
The mandatory 14-day quarantine for all arrivals – a requirement that means Cameron and his colleagues are still locked down in a Wellington hotel – will remain, he added.
02:39
PM Jacinda Ardern dances for joy as New Zealand lifts lockdown after coronavirus 'eliminated'
“The bar for being granted an exception to the border restrictions is set high, and remains high, to help stop the spread of Covid-19 and protect the health of people already in New Zealand,” Lees-Galloway said.
Under the changes, crew support staff and family from two America’s Cup syndicates have been allowed in, INEOS Team UK and American Magic.
Another two syndicates – Luna Rossa of Italy and Stars & Stripes Team USA – are expected to compete in the Prada Cup challenger series early next year but their immigration status is unknown.
The winner of the challenge earns the right to race holder Team New Zealand for the America’s Cup in March.