A man who boarded an Air New Zealand flight at Fua’amotu International Airport yesterday, 23 April, was removed due to a New Zealand Immigration technicality, and ended up in quarantine at the Fua'amotu Taliai Camp instead.

The passenger was deemed ineligible to arrive in New Zealand due to tightened travel restrictions and, unfortunately, the message was relayed to the Air New Zealand manager in Tonga at around 2:20pm after boarding had commenced.

Because he had entered the aircraft, which had come from New Zealand, the person was removed from the plane using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

The Ministry of Health stated today the risk of the person being infected with CoViD-19 is extremely low. He disembarked safely according to approved procedures and was then transported to Taliai Camp quarantine facility.

‘’We are just being extra careful and activated our quarantine process yesterday so that this particular person will be at the quarantine facility at Taliai Camp for the next 14 days,’’ said CEO for Health Dr. Siale ‘Akau’ola. 

‘’The risk of infection is very, very low because he has not had any contact with a confirmed or even a suspected case and there are no incoming passengers and all crew on the flight are required to provide a medical certificate clearing them before they fly here.”

“Still, we are being extra careful and put him under quarantine and have staff to monitor this person, as this is our standard response with the given situation,” he said. 

The Air NZ flight departed Tonga yesterday at 3:10pm with 132 passengers.

Double check

Passengers planning to leave Tonga in future are urged to double check with New Zealand Immigration if they are eligible to travel to New Zealand

Only New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, residents with valid travel conditions and their immediate family (partner or spouse, legal guardian and dependent children under the age of 24) can still travel to New Zealand.

Australian citizens and permanent residents who normally live in New Zealand can also return to New Zealand. 

The New Zealand Immigration [2] also states that if a New Zealand resident visa was granted outside of New Zealand and the holder is travelling to New Zealand for the first time on that visa, or the resident visa has expired travel conditions, the travel ban applies.

Tonga is still COVID-19 free and mitigation procedures are being implemented to prevent the introduction and spread of the virus in the Kingdom.