By Eleanor Gee

An Air New Zealand flight arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport today with medical supplies from New Zealand.

The medical supplies were negotiated with the assistance of the New Zealand High Commissioner in Tonga. 

Peter Lund, NZHC Political Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission told Matangi Tonga that today's flight is a weekly scheduled Air New Zealand service for which Tonga has provided an exemption.

"Tonga’s conditions for the flight were that there be no incoming passengers on board from New Zealand and that it only carried cargo, including essential medical supplies."

He said flights like this help New Zealand to assist the Pacific in preparation for COVID-19.  

"All passengers are required to comply with health screening and go into managed isolation on arrival in Auckland."

Citizens from other countries can transit via New Zealand according to New Zealand Immigration [2].

Tonga

The Prime Minister’s Office in a press statement today, said there were no incoming passengers on this NZ970 flight disembarking in Tonga.

According to the PM's office, the flight picked up outgoing passengers, including citizens of New Zealand, Australia and the United States, who were stranded in Tonga due to the closure of the borders by Government.

The PM reaffirmed Government’s decision to close Tonga's borders to flights with passengers. There is an exception for flights with medical needs due to COVID-19. 

The PMO issued the statement to refute reports on social media that this flight was to bring not only the medical supplies but also the Queen and Deputy Prime Minister. The PMO's statement claimed this was according to Setita Tu’i’onetoa from New Zealand who reportedly had received the information from Siaosi Pohiva from Tonga.

The PMO asserted that no passengers had arrived in Tonga today.