Covid 19 coronavirus: Grieving family given business exemption to enter NZ

The Jarman family. Photo / Supplied

By Tracy Neal, of RNZ

A British sailing family who pleaded to come to New Zealand after the death of their son have been allowed in.

The Herald revealed last month that Barbara Genda and Harry Jarman sold their home, bought a yacht and set off on a round-the-world trip with their children, but tragedy struck when their 14-year-old son Eddie was struck by a jetboat and killed while checking the anchor.

Their application to sail to New Zealand on humanitarian grounds was recently declined.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson told RNZ that the family's application to arrive in New Zealand for the purposes of delivery to a business had succeeded.

"They met the criteria for this and were granted an exemption by the director-general of health on November 2."

The family wanted the yacht sold before returning to the UK, where they planned to restart their lives.

The buoyancy of the market in New Zealand and associated boat maintenance infrastructure was a reason the family wanted to bring the yacht here.

The 17-metre yacht September AM which the Jarmans are now trying to sell. Photo / Supplied

The Auckland broker, Conrad Gair, with whom the luxury yacht is listed, said recently yachts that would traditionally sail here to be sold were not allowed in under current border restrictions, and New Zealand was missing out.

"If it comes to New Zealand and is sold to a New Zealander there are taxes, and taxes go into the system. There could be a brokerage fee, repair work on the boat and stuff for other trades in our industry."

New Zealand had not closed its border to goods or trade - imports and exports could continue to operate on the same basis as pre-Covid-19.

The family was currently in Tahiti - which Gair said was a hugely attractive sailing area, but not ideal for trying to sell a boat.