A cruise ship turned away from New Zealand is now stuck off the coast of New Caledonia, low on fuel with a significant storm approaching and no permission to dock. Le Laperouse has an economic exemption to come to New Zealand for the cruise season, but was last week refused entry after Immigration denied 61 of its 90 crew visas because they are not considered essential workers. The government says the ship left Jakarta before its paperwork was processed, but the boat's owner believes it and the crew were given the all clear to come. Ponant Cruises' Asia Pacific boss Sarina Bratton told Checkpoint the boat had travelled 3600 nautical miles to get to New Zealand