Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has confirmed that the first in a series of New Zealand Government-arranged flights will head to New Caledonia today to begin bringing New Zealanders home.
“New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days – and bringing them home has been an urgent priority for the Government,” Mr Peters says.
“We want to acknowledge the support of relevant authorities, both in Paris and Nouméa, in facilitating this flight.”
The Foreign Minister said the situation in New Caledonia remains dynamic, and New Zealand officials were continuing to work with French counterparts and other partners to understand what is needed to ensure the safety of stranded citizens.
“In cooperation with France and Australia, we are working on subsequent flights in coming days,” he said.
Today’s NZDF flight will carry around 50 passengers with the most pressing needs from Nouméa to Auckland. Passengers for subsequent flights will be prioritised by consular staff, the Minister said.
New Zealanders in New Caledonia are urged to ensure their details in SafeTravel are up to date. This will allow officials to be in touch with further advice.
New Zealanders in need of immediate consular assistance should contact the 24/7 Consular Emergency line on +64 99 20 20 20.
