Google founder Larry Page was allowed to enter New Zealand in January despite the corona-related closure of the borders.

In the Pacific state, which has been protecting itself very strictly and so far very successfully against the pandemic, there is now a fierce controversy over preferential treatment for the 48-year-old US billionaire.

The visit was only now publicized by a report by the New Zealand news portal Stuff.

Accordingly, Page received a special permit to travel to New Zealand with his sick son from the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific.

An ambulance plane picked them up and brought them to a hospital in Auckland, the largest city in the country.

With an estimated net worth of $ 116 billion, Page is one of the richest people in the world.

During the early days of the pandemic, he withdrew with his family to a remote Fiji island.

Minister defends permission

The right-wing liberal opposition party ACT criticized that Page had received preferential treatment as a super-rich, while even many New Zealanders had been refused entry due to Corona.

Health Secretary Andrew Little defended the permit.

It was a medical emergency and all corona rules were observed.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she did not know about the entry.

Every year there are around 100 such air ambulance flights.

"The decision is made by the doctors."

A stuff report provided that Page had also been granted a residence permit.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs confirmed this.

The Google founder may have benefited from a law that gives wealthy investors the opportunity to have a residence in New Zealand.

In the meantime, Page and son have left the country again.

New Zealand, with a population of five million, has so far got the virus under control due to extremely strict measures and has only recorded just under 2900 infections so far. 26 people died there in connection with Covid-19.