French vessel stranded over visa kerfuffle

French vessel stranded over visa kerfuffle
Staff reporters
The French-flagged vessel Le Laperouse is idling on the edge of New Zealand’s exclusive economic zone while officials work out what to do with the cruise ship carrying 61 people declined visas.Immigration NZ granted visas to 29 crew deemed essential for the vessel to travel to NZ and deliver it to a business for a refit and refurbishment, but twice declined 61 other hospitality crew. The ship left Jakarta, Indonesia before having the necessary approvals. “The ship should have waited for decisions on visas to be completed to ens...