An escape plan is being hatched for Kiwis trapped in New Caledonia's civil unrest.
Our Defence Force is looking at sending a C-130 Hercules to Noumea to pick them up.
Kiwis on the ground say there's now relative calm in the capital after violent clashes between the indigenous Kanak people and French security forces.
French forces scrambled to call in reinforcements amid the unrest, as emergency vehicles commandeered by pro-independence protestors were driven through New Caledonia's burning streets.
And this is France's answer - 1000 more troops on the way to boost the 1700 already on the ground.
Despite days of deadly clashes, Kiwis near the capital Nouméa sense order is slowly being restored.
"We were able to get out of the hotel and go for a bit of a walk. We ended up where we got some bread, we had to queue up much like the COVID days, and it was very good to see some French people out and about so clearly they're feeling more safe about what's happening," said Mike Lightfoot.
But for several days, this has been the reality - an explosion of violence spurred by constitutional change that would give voting rights to French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years.
Five people have been killed, streets have turned into battlefields and supplies have been stripped from shelves.
"The shop shelves are absolutely bare. Everybody's queueing up to buy products," Lightfoot said.
And now a Defence Force plane could be the saving grace for trapped Kiwis. Newshub has been told the Government is planning to send a Hercules to the island for evacuations, a move approved by the French Government.
But there's still the question of access to the airport, with reports suggesting it was swarmed by protestors on Friday night.
"The roads are blocked. And until they clear those roads, and can guarantee New Zealanders' safety to get to the airport, there will be no show of us trying to do that," Lightfoot said.
Back in Auckland are worried parents - Maarten's daughter is among the stranded.
"We're anxious, but as long as they stay safe and obey all the instructions from the authorities they should be in a good position," he said.
In New Caledonia, the uprising left buildings gutted and businesses ruined, but French authorities say the rebellion will soon be extinguished.
"We can say that the state is putting huge resources to save lives, to protect the most important infrastructure, the airport, the port, electricity, hospitals, protect the offices of France Televisions, protect everything that makes democracy thrive locally. But in the coming hours, yes, the state will completely regain control," French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
While some streets are shrouded in smoke as vehicles burn, the French tactics are clear - win the conflict through sheer numbers.
