A New Zealand Defence Force Hercules plane which earlier departed New Caledonia as the first mercy flight to get Kiwis off the riot-torn island has touched down in Auckland tonight.
Women, children and the sick and elderly are believed to be prioritised in the evacuation effort, with the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s C-130 Hercules carrying about 50 passengers out of the French territory’s capital, Noumea.
The plane landed at Auckland International Airport around 10pm, after it was earlier understood to be landing back at the RNZAF Base Auckland in Whenuapai, where it departed from this evening.
Auckland couple Bob and Beverly Jones said it was a relief to be back in New Zealand as things “were getting worse” in Noumea.
The retired couple were in the capital for eight days, having originally booked a five-day holiday.
“We got one day of holiday and the rest was just chaos,” Bob said.
The pair said 150 police officers were staying in the same hotel as them, so felt quite reassured through the riots.
“Northern Noumea was worst, they were looting and creating barricades across the road between Noumea and the main airport ... I think there were 76 barricades there.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters earlier announced the flight only an hour before it took off from RNZAF Base Auckland, saying it would be the first of several emergency evacuation missions.
The Hercules landed at Noumea Magenta Aerodrome shortly after 5pm NZDT today and departed on its trip back to Auckland at 7pm.
Kiwi Nat Jones told the Herald she was asked last night whether she wanted to be on this evening’s flight and she jumped at the opportunity, packing her bags and giving away food immediately.
“We can hear the gunfire, we can hear the explosions, we can smell the smoke,” Jones said. “I’m just a bit anxious because now is the scary bit. We’re leaving the safe zone to go to the airport.
“Yesterday, nurses were heading to work at the hospital and were hijacked by [men with] machetes during the day,” she said.
Shelves in shops were bare and food was hard to come by, she said.
Nouema’s airport, La Tontouta International, has been closed since unrest broke out on May 13. The RNZAF Hercules landed at Noumea Magenta Aerodrome, the island’s domestic airport, just after 5pm.
There were about 250 New Zealanders reported to be on the island, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAT) said.
One stranded Kiwi, who did not want to be named, said they were “highly concerned” that the first busload of evacuees appeared not to be accompanied by a police or military escort between their hotel and the airport.
“The Australians had riot tanks, gendarme [civil paramilitary] riot police and were well protected. The bus of Kiwis waited 50 minutes and decided to leave as [it] couldn’t wait for the escort any longer,” the anxious New Zealander said.
A video later circulating on social media showed a convoy of buses, with at least one police bike at the front of the convoy.
An MFAT official rang Jones this morning and arranged for her to be picked up from outside her hotel and taken to the airport. However, Jones said she had been waiting for hours to be picked up, causing further anxiety.
There would be more mercy flights throughout the rest of this week, Peters said. He could not say how many flights would be put on, saying: “We will see who wants to come.”
There had been “a lot of hard work from the Foreign Affairs team” and others involved in starting the mission to get Kiwis home, he said.
Peters was grateful for the help of French authorities, who believed they could ensure a safe passage to the airport for the first group of 50 New Zealanders to leave the island.
“The number one objective here is you have New Zealanders in a situation of danger and our job was to ensure we did our utmost to get them out,” he said.
“And I am confident we can do that”.
He said the list of New Zealanders who wanted help in Noumea was “300-plus”.
Earlier, he said New Zealanders in New Caledonia had faced a challenging few days and bringing them home had been an urgent priority for the Government.
“We want to acknowledge the support of relevant authorities, both in Paris and Noumea, in facilitating this flight.
“The situation in New Caledonia remains dynamic and New Zealand officials are continuing to work with French counterparts and other partners, especially Australia, to understand what is needed to ensure the safety of our people there.”
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was “good news” that New Zealand’s plane was on its way.
There had been a lot of dialogue between New Zealand and French authorities over the past 48 hours, with the main issue surrounding “confidence on the ground” that it was “safe and secure” to land and start the evacuation, as well as the earlier travel to the airport.
“We have been waiting for French authorities to say it is safe and secure to do so and they have given us those assurances,” Luxon said.
Passengers for subsequent flights would be prioritised by consular staff, he said.
Peters and his Australian counterpart Penny Wong met French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné late last night to re-emphasise that both countries shared the urgent need to evacuate their citizens from the island.
Air New Zealand confirmed last night that all commercial flights remained suspended, with its next scheduled service not being until Saturday. The airport at Noumea remains closed to commercial flights.
Captain David Morgan, Air New Zealand’s chief operational integrity and safety officer, said flights would recommence only “when we can be assured that the airport is safe and secure and that there is a safe route for our ground staff and customers to reach the airport”.
Stranded Kiwi Mike Lightfoot told the Herald he had been talking with other New Zealanders and Australians, trying to keep his mind off the danger unfolding around them.
“I’ve been having a coffee with some this morning and they are excited to know there is a plan in place and it has kicked off today,” Lightfoot said.
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