A plane from the Defence Force carrying 50 New Zealanders evacuated from New Caledonia has safely landed at Auckland Airport. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is collaborating with France and Australia to ensure the safe evacuation of several flights due to civil unrest in New Caledonia. The first flight departed from the capital, Noumea, at 7pm and arrived in Auckland around 10pm.
Passengers on the Defence Force plane expressed relief upon landing in Auckland. Some were reunited with their families, while others were taken to the hospital for immediate medical care. Among the passengers were Chris and Mike Riley, who had to cut their week-long trip short due to the unrest. They described hearing explosions, fireworks, and gunfire. They were relieved to be back home and had no immediate plans to travel again.
Another passenger, Carl, had been in a tourist area of New Caledonia for two weeks. He said he felt relieved to be on the Defence Force flight back to New Zealand, even though it was a different kind of trip.
The international airport in Noumea remains closed. Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said that the New Zealanders on the flight were escorted to the airport for their safety. He added that Pacific Island nations have also asked for New Zealand’s help in evacuating their citizens. Peters said more flights are expected in the coming days to evacuate all 250 New Zealanders from the French territory, which is currently experiencing riots and political unrest. He hopes another flight will depart for New Caledonia in the morning.
