The C130 Hercules plane flying Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to Antarctica has turned around and returned to Christchurch.
Antarctica New Zealand has confirmed the plane had to return to New Zealand due to poor weather at McMurdo Sound.
"Safety is our number one focus when flying to the coldest, windiest, remotest place on Earth so this is not uncommon (we call it a boomerang flight!)."
Flight Radar shows the C130 Hercules took off at about 10am on Tuesday for the roughly eight-hour flight, but turned around a quarter of the way there.
Speaking at Tuesday's post-Cabinet press conference, acting Prime Minister Grant Robertson said "options are currently being assessed as to whether to make another attempt to travel in the next day or so".
Ardern was "very much looking forward" to the trip to see work planned to refurbish Scott Base, Robertson said.
Ardern was going to Antarctica from Tuesday to Friday to mark the 65th year of Scott Base.
"Antarctica is part of New Zealand's heritage and future and we're committed to its protection as a natural reserve for peace, science and cooperation," Ardern said last week.
The Prime Minister was going to see the research, environmental protection, conservation and operations undertaken by Kiwis in Antarctica.
The cooperation in Antarctica amongst the Antarctic Treaty Parties specifically in the US - New Zealand's Antarctic neighbour and partner for more than 60 years - were to be discussed during the Prime Minister's visit
New Zealand is one of the only countries in the world which maintains a territorial claim, base and heritage responsibility in Antarctica.
