NZ Middle East evacuation flights will also assist stranded Pacific Island nationals

Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters says New Zealand’s plans to evacuate citizens from the Middle East will also extend to Pacific Island nationals stranded by the conflict.

Speaking to reporters during his visit to Uruguay, Peters confirmed two New Zealand Defence Force C-130J aircraft are being pre-deployed to the region.

“We have members of the Pacific Islands Forum, you can expect them to ask us as they did during the New Caledonian crisis,” Peters says.

New Zealand rescued a total of 370 people including 145 foreign nationals during the 2024 unrest in New Caledonia.

No Pacific nations have asked New Zealand for assistance on helping to get stranded citizens out yet.

Peters signalled that assistance may not be limited to New Zealand passport holders.

Peters is currently in Brazil, the third stop of his South American tour. Photo/PMN News/Ala Vailala

The crisis comes after escalating conflict in the Middle East forced the closure of regional airspace and the suspension of most commercial flights.

The number of New Zealanders registered with SafeTravel has surged in the last 24 hours from 2400 to 3000 with Peters saying he expects numbers to continue to rise.

The two aircraft are being deployed in advance so they can respond quickly if the security situation allows evacuations.

The agility of the C-130J Hercules aircraft means it can be seen operating in the cold of Antarctica one week and the heat of the tropics the next. Photo/Supplied/NZDF

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is running a 24/7 response operation to events in the Middle East, including via teams in the region.

For now, the government is advising New Zealanders in the region to shelter in place as airspace closures and suspended commercial flights limit evacuation options.

Under the current plan, the NZDF aircraft would move people out of high-risk areas to safer locations rather than fly them directly back to New Zealand.

Watch Tongan couple Kim Halavātau and Faka‘osilea (Lea) Halavātau who are in Abu Dhabi below.

“Our team is working on defence and foreign affairs around the club, using all their experience to ensure that they can intervene to help them in the most safe way possible.

“So, hang on, help is on its way,” Peters says.

New Zealanders needing urgent consular assistance should call the Ministry’s Emergency Consular Call Centre on +64 99 20 20 20.