KEY POINTS:
As tensions in Thailand ease, questions are being asked about whether the new government acted soon enough when New Zealand lives could have been at risk.
Australians are being evacuated in their hundreds as about 250 New Zealanders languish in Thailand.
Anti-government protesters have ended a blockade of
Bangkok's airports after Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat was forced to step down by the courts.
Their actions had stranded 250,000 travellers.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully said the government would review its handling of the situation and why Air Force passenger planes were unavailable.
Labour leader Phil Goff said the Government needed to answer questions about why faster action wasn't taken and why Prime Minister John Key did not appear to have an action plan.
New Zealanders wanted to know why planeloads of Australians had been evacuated but not our people, he said.
"Yesterday we faced a real threat that the situation if not resolved by the constitutional court could have turned to custard; there could have been violence. And yet Mr Key said yesterday there was no contingency plan," Mr Goff said.
"Frankly that's unbelievable."
Mr McCully has been talking with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith.
Mr Goff questioned what results had been achieved.
"Why wasn't there a joint effort by Australia and New Zealand so our citizens could have come out alongside the Aussies? And if he couldn't do it at the foreign minister level then clearly that should have been elevated to a Prime Minister to Prime Minister level."
The Government has been critical of the air force for allowing both its passenger planes to be out of the country for maintenance at the same time.
Mr Goff said the situation came up a week ago and the government would have known then the Boeing 757s were unavailable.
While the Australian government talked to Qantas, which agreed to put on more flights, the government had not sought to charter a plane from a carrier with rights to fly in Thailand.
"The situation as it looked yesterday with the violence the grenade attacks was such that I think you could have justified taking extraordinary steps."
The government sent a Hercules last night, a far slower option, and Mr Goff said that was too little too late.
Mr McCully said it was up to the public to judge how the government had handled the situation.
"I think the public always make those decisions. I am confident we've done the right thing, we've relied on the officials to give us good advice, from that advice we've drawn our own conclusions and ultimately the public make their own minds up about that."
Mr Goff said ministers were not there to rubber stamp officials' advice and had to make tough decisions to earn their salaries.
Mr Key this morning said he was frustrated by the Defence Force's decision to allow both 757s out of the country at the same time and it had been found wanting.
Mr McCully said questions would be asked and efforts would be made to ensure a better response capability in future.
"If it is avoidable it is certainly not acceptable."
Mr McCully said his talks with Mr Smith focused on the ability of Australian airlines to help the stranded New Zealanders and there were "indications of great cooperation".
His spokesman later said that Qantas would look to help New Zealanders but its priority was ticket holders.
Flights would speed up now the protest was over and passengers did not need to travel to other areas.
The Hercules would remain on stand-by in Malaysia in case it was needed.
Mr McCully said it could be there was not enough capacity to help the New Zealanders in which case it could be used.
He hit back at Mr Goff for saying Mr Key should have called Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd saying the comment was gratuitous as he was talking to Mr Smith and further comments about the availability of air force planes were "downright mischievous and cheeky".
"He's the person who has presided over the equipment programme in the NZDF (defence force) over the last few years. Any responsibility for the inability of the two 757s to fly, to be in service at the same time comes to rest on his door step."
Some travellers have criticised embassy staff but both Mr McCully and Mr Goff said they worked extremely hard to handle the situation and help New Zealanders.
Among those doing the complaining were Michael Jenkins and Tessa Welsh, who told the Waikato Times they were due to fly out of Bangkok on November 27.
They had been stuck in the Thai capital with dwindling finances for five days but there had been virtually no assistance from the New Zealand embassy, they said.
"We left our contact details, which included email and a Thai cellphone number, and were told that the embassy would release a statement to all those who had made contact, and provide updates, none of which has happened," Mr Jenkins said.
Only minimal information was distributed, "all of which is outdated and unreliable".
"We like many others feel completely forgotten about and ignored."
The embassy had offered a NZ$200 allowance but the money would have been repaid on return to New Zealand.
"What a joke. As of yet we have received no financial assistance and are running up a large debt to keep ourselves going."
- NZPA
