Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand Defence Force aircraft and crew are "ready to fly" to New Caledonia for a mercy mission to evacuate stranded New Zealanders trapped due to ongoing rioting.
In a post on X, Winston Peters said New Zealand authorities had completed preparations for NZDF aircraft to fly to Noumea to bring trapped New Zealanders home.
"We are ready to fly and await approval from French authorities as to when our flights are safe to proceed."
More than 200 New Zealanders are registered as being in New Caledonia currently, although Peters has urged anyone not already registered on the Safe Travel site to do so immediately.
One of the issues, according to New Zealanders on the ground, is how to get to the airport due to roadblocks and violence on the main highway.
France has deployed almost 3000 police and troops to New Caledonia after rioting broke out following a move in Paris to change voting rules.
Changes would allow more French residents of New Caledonia to vote, which the indigenous population fear will dilute their influence.
