Irene Wolmarans (L) and Abigail Marthinusen in transit on their way home to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Irene Wolmarans (L) and Abigail Marthinusen in transit on their way home to New Zealand. Photo / Supplied
Whanganui couple Irene Wolmarans and Abigail Marthinusen have finally arrived back in New Zealand after the Covid-19 pandemic caused a two-week holiday to their native South Africa in March - a few weeks before New Zealand went into Covid-19 lockdown - to stretch into a nine month stay.
New Zealandhas been their primary place of residence since 2016, but as they had not yet secured permanent residency, securing flights back into the country was difficult and they were left stranded and forced to put life in Whanganui on hold.
The couple eventually secured a Critical Purpose Entry Visa after the Government and Immigration New Zealand opened up the category for "ordinarily resident work visa holders" to return to NZ in early October.
"We had to make the application, wherein you answer a series of questions about your ties to New Zealand, like how long you have been living and working in NZ and if you have managed to maintain your employment relationship while being offshore," Wolmarans said.
Wolmarans is the general manager of Frank Bar and Eatery, and Marthinusen is the floor manager at the Rutland Arms Inn.
"Once the application was reviewed, INZ (Immigration New Zealand) would then send you a Invitation to Apply and you would need to substantiate your case of truly being an 'Ordinary Resident of NZ'," Wolmarans said.
The couple are currently in one of the managed isolation facilities in Auckland Central and are expecting to be able to head home to Whanganui on the morning of January 2.
Irene Wolmarans and Agibail Marthinusen were in lockdown in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo / Supplied
"The service and hospitality of the staff at the MIQ facility has been absolutely stellar and they truly are trying their best to make the whole stay as comfortable as possible," Wolmarans said.
"So far, the food has been ample and really delicious and we have everything we could possibly need, and then some. It's amazing to see how well managed and completely smooth the whole process has been.
"Well done, Aotearoa."
South Africa had now moved down to alert level 1, Wolmarans said, with some restrictions still in place on social gatherings, the sale of alcohol and the continued implementation of a curfew to help deter the spread or the possibility of a second wave.
"All in all, they are doing a good job, with the few exceptions of a couple of festive season hotspots, which have swiftly been given tougher restrictions."
Wolmarans said it was "pretty bittersweet" to be given the all clear to return to New Zealand.
Irene Wolmarans and Abigail Marthinusen. Photo / Bevan Conley
"We have to say goodbye to our families still in South Africa, but we are still extremely excited and thankful to be able to come home.
"We're mainly just looking forward to getting back to work and of course seeing our family, friends and pets again."
It had been "a long nine months away" from the things and the people they love, Wolmarans said.
"We are so immensely grateful that we have managed to, not only survive the pandemic, but also to be granted the opportunity to continue growing our legacies here in Whanganui.
"It's good to be home and we have so much love for our little Whanganui community.
"The amount of support we have received from all over the world has actually been overwhelming and we will strive to pay it forward in any way possible."
