Wellington: Australia and New Zealand announced on Tuesday the deployment of three aircraft to the French Pacific region of New Caledonia.
In Wellington, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand was sending the plane immediately after receiving permission from French authorities for a long landing.
Tontouta International Airport, New Caledonia’s main airport, usually hosts a steady stream of tourists looking for a vacation in paradise.
But for the past week, heavily armed French security forces have intercepted military planes as they try to quell anti-government protests in Paris.
Peter said the New Zealand flight would bring “50 passengers with the most urgent needs” back to Auckland.
It said it would be “the first in a series of flights proposed to start bringing New Zealanders home”.
Shortly after the announcement, colleague Penny Wong said Australia had received permission to send two planes.
More than 3,000 people are reported to have been affected by the week-long riots that closed the Pacific archipelago’s main international airport.
Most of them are tourists from Australia and New Zealand who stay in resorts and hotels with meals.
Australian tourist Maxwell Winchester and his wife Tiffany have been banned from the resort between Noumea and the airport for more than a week.
He told AFP on Tuesday that he hoped to be rescued soon.
“We understand that we won’t be able to get on this flight because the people who need it the most will be able to get on, but at least we will find a way out in the next few days.”
Tourists told AFP of food shortages, gunfire, fires and looting near resorts, raising fears for their safety.
