Relieved New Zealanders have landed in Auckland after a Defence Force rescue flight from New Caledonia.
On Tuesday the New Zealand Defence Force was granted permission for a rescue flight to bring Kiwis stranded in New Caledonia home.
It comes as violence rocks the New Caledonian capital and some have questioned why it's taken so long for France to approve evacuations by foreign military.
A Hercules C-130 left the Whenuapai airbase in Auckland bound for Noumea - the first of multiple flights.
On Tuesday evening it touched back down in Auckland with the first group of rescued passengers, which included Bob and Beverly Jones.
Beverly said it is "great" to be back in New Zealand, adding their trip was meant to last five days, but instead ended up being eight.
"It's been a bit surreal really because we could see smoke and things in the distance but around the beach and the esplanade it was fine and sunny and the locals were out walking the dogs... so it was quite normal in some ways."
Bob added while things were fairly calm where they were, it was getting worse before they left.
"All the supermarkets were empty, shelves and everything, people had taken everything out and they weren't being resupplied very well and it's going to get worse there now," he said.
Another man said he was happy to be home and getting on the flight was "a big relief".
Kerikeri locals Mike and Chris Reilly were also relieved to be home. Mike said while the past week was difficult, everyone treated them well.
"It's been difficult, but it's been nice. We've been treated well by all the people in New Caledonia, we've been treated well by MFAT and the New Zealand Consulate," Mike said.
Chris said they were lucky to be in a safe resort, but it was still unsettling.
"We were isolated, we were actually in a lovely place, and it was quite peaceful, but we were trapped and couldn't get through because of all the troubles," she said.
"We were alright where we were, but we heard lots of explosions and gunfire and things.
"It was a bit unsettling, but I think other people got it worse than us. There were other people in another resort who were quite frightened."
New Caledonia descended into violence last week after Paris voted to change voting rules. The changes would allow more French residents to vote in local elections, a move indigenous Kanak say will weaken their influence.
Six people, including two French police officers and four young Kanak, have been killed in the violence.
In recent days, security forces have been trying to clear roadblocks set up by protestors that have restricted access to the international airport.
More than 200 people have so far been arrested and an additional 1000 French police and military have been flown in to bolster the 1700 personnel already in the territory.
