Samoan nationals

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the flights are scheduled on Friday 29 May and thereafter on 12 June 12 and 26 June as well as 9 July and 23 July.

The flight on 22 May is still operating as scheduled but as a cargo flight.

Further flights will be arranged until all those stranded abroad are brought home.

Connecting flights from other parts of the world through NZ will be subject to the lifting of border restrictions of the countries concerned.

They are among 193 passengers on board an Air New Zealand Charter flight organised by the Government of New Zealand.

The plane is expected to arrive in Auckland this evening and the passengers will be isolated at Whangaparaoa as part of measures to respond to the coronavirus.

Three Samoan students chose not to catch the flight and remained in their university campuses in Wuhan following consultations with their parents.