Pacific / Niue

Rogue yacht looking for fruit ordered to leave Niue

18:12 pm on 23 December 2020

Police in Niue have ordered a yacht to leave after it arrived unannounced on Monday evening (Tues NZT).

The French-flagged vessel was en route to New Caledonia from Tahiti, and hadn't radioed its arrival when it was spotted off Alofi Bay.

Looking out to sea from Niue's coast Photo: AFP

Niue's public broadcaster said those on board had gone to Niue seeking fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and diesel.

But instead, they were ordered to leave Niue.

"Niue continues to have strict border restrictions and our waters are closed to all yachts," police chief Tim Wilson told the BCN.

"The Niue Police urge all yachts in the vicinity of Niue waters to check their routes before they depart and to respect our border restrictions.

The island's borders remain closed.