So, if you are in governance, what do you do?
If you let people in from half a world away (Tahiti), who else do you have to let in? Half of India is clamouring to come back here. They already have established lives / family / jobs here apparently. Do those people have a greater claim to entry than cruising sailors in the Eastern Pacific?
Every foreign sailor already in NZ doesn't want to leave. All the back-packers etc don't want to leave. If you let these guys in for this summer, will they leave again next winter?
It is far easier to say no to everyone, than to say yes to some