Clark's Dublin flight forced to turn back

Prime Minister Helen Clark's arrival in Dublin to help present New Zealand's 2011 rugby World Cup bid has been delayed after a flight she was on was forced to turn back to Auckland.

The New Zealand Rugby Union is making its final presentation to the International Rugby Board on Thursday, with the World Cup announcement then due after 5am on Friday NZT.

A spokeswoman for Helen Clark said she departed Auckland on a flight to Los Angeles -- the first leg of the trip to Dublin -- last night, but four hours into the trip the Qantas aircraft was forced to turn back due to a mechanical problem.

She spent the night at her Auckland home and was due to catch another flight this afternoon.

The Prime Minister would still arrive in Dublin in time to help present New Zealand's World Cup bid to the IRB.

However she would no longer be able to attend a day of meetings with Irish politicians the day before.

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF