Air NZ flight to Rarotonga turns back

An Air New Zealand flight travelling from Auckland to Rarotonga turned back mid flight because of a possible "engineering issue".

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said NZ46 flight turned back to New Zealand this morning, after departing for Rarotonga.

She said the pilot "elected to return to Auckland as a precaution after a potential engineering issue was indicated".

She said the aircraft then landed "without incident" in Auckland around 12.45pm.

Customers on the plane would travel to Rarotonga on another aircraft this afternoon, she said.