So much for no boat people wanting to come to NZ

The Herald reports:

A ramshackle fishing boat carrying 66 suspected asylum seekers from Sri Lanka has arrived in Australia – carrying passengers holding a sign saying “We want to go to New Zealand”.

The overcrowded wooden fishing vessel carrying men, women and children was spotted off the coast of Geraldton, about 400km north of Perth in Western Australia.

It is believed to be the first boat to have travelled so far south in recent years. Most asylum seekers arrive near Christmas Island, more than 2000km north, where they are usually intercepted.

The boat, thought to have been at sea for 44 days, was spotted by two local men testing the motor of a dinghy about 500m offshore.

It was met by customs and police officers about 12pm yesterday and towed into harbour.

Photographs show a group of passengers holding a sign with the words: “We want to go to New Zealand. Please help us”.

A New Zealand flag was flying on the boat.

While I admire their good taste in choosing New Zealand over Australia, these journeys are very dangerous.

The passengers included four babies and a pregnant woman.

Could easily have been tragic.