An Air New Zealand spokesperson confirmed to the Herald it had modified its flight paths as needed to avoid the area, but its operations had not been affected.
Defence Minister Judith Collins tonight confirmed the government was aware of a possible live-firing activity by the Chinese Task Group currently off the coast of Australia.
“However, there has been no confirmation this has happened,” Collins said.
“Australia and New Zealand are working closely together to monitor the Task Group, and to gather information on today’s notification. Like Australia, our primary concern is the safety of our people, vessels and aircraft.
“There is no ongoing danger to New Zealand.”
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of New Zealand told the Herald it was aware of the advice issued by Airservices Australia which is responsible for aviation safety within the region.
“If there is a known issue in the New Zealand Flight Information Region (FIR), advice would likely be issued via NOTAM (Notice to Airmen, a message that informs pilots of important information about flight conditions),” CAA’s deputy chief executive of aviation security and infrastructure, Mike Hill.
The Herald has approached the New Zealand Defence Force for comment.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told ABC’s Afternoon Briefing she understood live-fire exercises had been carried out.
“We will be discussing this with the Chinese and we already have at official level in relation to the notice given and the transparency provided in relation to these exercises, particularly the live-fire exercises,” Wong said.
“Obviously, this is an evolving situation, but it would be normal practice where a task group is engaging in exercises for there to be advice given to vessels and aircraft in the area and Airservices Australia is doing what it should do, which is to give that advice.”
Yesterday, New Zealand Defence Minister Judith Collins vented frustration at the Chinese Government for not informing New Zealand that it would be sending a “highly capable” strike force with “enormous strike power” down the east coast of Australia.
Today, Collins was more reserved in her comments, telling RNZ’s Morning Report that they had been aware of the fleet trajectory for “a few days” and that it was a “significant” incident, but the ships were entitled to travel through international waters.
“The information that I can provide is that they’re still not that far off Sydney, about 130-150km off Sydney.
“At the moment they’re just complying with international law, they’re entitled to do this under the UN [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“But they are certainly significant vessels and the most significant and sophisticated we’ve seen this far south.”
Collins said the Chinese Government and Chinese Embassy had given New Zealand no notice that it would be sending the strike force into the region.
The Prime Minister would deal with “any conversations” with the Chinese ambassador, Collins said.
Collins said she could not say whether the Government has had any communication with the Chinese Government about the ships.
“I can’t answer that,” she said.
The New Zealand Government was using “highly intelligent” aircraft alongside support from Australian counterparts to monitor the ships.
Asked how concerned “the ordinary New Zealander” should be about the ships, Collins said it was a “wake-up call”.
“It’s real evidence that our distance means nothing now.”
Collins claimed the ships were also evidence that New Zealand should not “rest easy on defence”.
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