The Prime Minister was stranded for 45 minutes on the tarmac at Auckland Airport after lightning strikes.
A spokesperson for Jacinda Ardern confirmed it had happened on Tuesday, as the Prime Minister flew in to Auckland from Wellington.
The spokesperson expressed concern about the Prime Minister missing her bilateral meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in scheduled at 10am.
- Auckland storm live: Thunder, lightning strikes hit region
- Video captures terror as lightning strikes Auckland
The Prime Minister said last month she was "very much looking forward" to welcoming President Moon to New Zealand.
She would be joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters for the high-level discussions
The stranding comes after 872 lightning strikes between 6:30am and 8:30am were recorded across New Zealand, according to WeatherWatch.
Meteorologist James Millward said the "very active cold front" which swept across Hamilton on Monday was moving its way across Auckland on Tuesday morning, causing thunderstorms and widespread darkness.
Auckland Airport told Newshub that no international flights have been delayed as a result of the thunderstorms.
Newshub.
