The only country that ’s seemingly stop the spread of the new coronavirus could screw it up — forAvatar . New Zealand ’s economic evolution minister revealed under question that he ’s been using little known world power around the state ’s strict foreign travel Bachelor of Arts in Nursing to issue 100 of exemption for “ high value foreigner , ” seemingly including James Cameron’sAvatar sequelscrew .

New Zealand has been the model ofeffective coronavirus responseover the past two month . As part of that response , Prime Minister Jacinda Arden ’s government issued exacting change of location restrictions for all foreigners , which were partially altered a calendar month after the Carry Amelia Moore Nation enter lockdown to allow the arriver of essential workers and for humanitarian needs . geminate with hoi polloi examination and far-flung contract trace , these moves have resulted in only 1,154 cases and 21 deaths since the pandemic began .

https://gizmodo.com/new-zealand-says-it-has-successfully-managed-to-stop-co-1843110907

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) watches as a bunch of people fly around, presumably avoiding travel restrictions.

Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) watches as a bunch of people fly around, presumably avoiding travel restrictions.Image: 20th Century Studios

As the country has easy begun toease restrictions internally , the government activity hasgiven the green lightfor movie and TV productions to return under strict condom guidelines , pave the wayfor product on Avatar and Amazon Studios ’ Lord of the Rings to resume . But it front like some of those rules were already being conveniently bypassed . According to theNew Zealand Herald , Economic Developer Minister Phil Twyford said that New Zealand ’s Cabinet has issued several travel exemption using a little - known family for alien arrivals in the land who are consider key actor for projects of “ meaning economical time value . ” That means hundreds of non - Kiwis have been receive around the country ’s strict travel proscription for over a month now .

It ’s a power the Cabinet granted Twyford on April 21 . Since then , he ’s used it for a “ pair of hundred ” in several critical industries , including energy and water base . Twyford would n’t remark specifically on whether Hollywood studios have been included , tell it ’d be “ inappropriate ” to discuss , but it would seem that they are . Avatar producer Jon Landaurecently announcedthat he was returning to New Zealand this week to restart production . In total , there have been about 1,500 change of location approvals for foreigners , mostly for family members or temporary visa holders . And Avatar sequels , seemingly .

In a Emily Price Post onInstagram , Avatar manufacturer Jon Landau share that he was preparing to return to New Zealand with a yield crew this week , along with a exposure of one of the solidifying . Landautold Radio NZproduction will be utilize the same mass they were already knead with in New Zealand , but will also be bringing in crew from overseas — albeit a small-scale team than before .

How To Watch French Open Live On A Free Channel

View this post on Instagram

“ We sense we ’re coming back to the safe station in the creation possible , thanks to a team of multitude that we ’ve work with . , ” Landau say . “ We think we have a very serious-minded , elaborate and diligent safety plan that will keep everybody as safe as possible in these unprecedented time . ”

Even though Twyford said everyone who ’s been admitted to the country has had to undergo quarantine or make do self - closing off , the revelation of the exemptions have invite criticism from New Zealand resident physician — mainly because the governing is already in a bit of hot water for how it ’s unevenly implement some locomotion restrictions . Earlier this calendar month , it was reportedthat over two dozen people had request “ pity exemptions ” to forget their quarantines early to visit loved ones on their deathbeds and all were deny .

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

“ There ’s a set of touchstone that we ’ve been using to make the conclusion , ” Twyford said . “ The the great unwashed have to have some acquirement or expertness or talent that is decisive to their project that ca n’t be met by someone in New Zealand … It has to be time critical … And the third affair is that it has to have meaning economic economic value , some wider benefit to the thriftiness , to supply chain , employment , rather than just being a problem for that special industry . ”

https://gizmodo.com/a-brief-history-of-the-not-so-brief-wait-for-avatar-2-1843290196

Cameron is concurrently work on four contrive sequels to 2009 ’s Avatar . The first one was rig to hail out this December but has been pushed back ( yet again ) to December 2021 because of the pandemic . There ’s been no password whether other project presently in development in New Zealand , including Lord of the Rings , have likewise be give change of location exemptions — unless they already have been .

William Duplessie

For more , verify you ’re following us on our Instagram @io9dotcom .

Daily Newsletter

Get the best technical school , science , and civilisation news in your inbox daily .

News from the future , deliver to your present .

You May Also Like

Starship Test 9

Lilo And Stitch 2025

CMF by Nothing Phone 2 Pro has an Essential Key that’s an AI button

Photo: Jae C. Hong

Doctor Who Omega

How To Watch French Open Live On A Free Channel

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

William Duplessie

Starship Test 9

Roborock Saros Z70 Review

Polaroid Flip 09

Feno smart electric toothbrush

Govee Game Pixel Light 06