Dr Fotu Fisi’iahi, CEO for the Ministry of Internal Affairs was pleased to finally return home to Tonga on yesterday’s repatriation flight, after being stranded in New Zealand since March.

“Yes, it’s lovely to be back,” he told Matangi Tonga this morning.

Dr Fisi’iahi had travelled to the USA and on his return, unluckily, was in transit in New Zealand waiting for a flight back to Tonga when the border was closed on March 23.

“I was stranded in New Zealand. I had to do 14-days of self-isolation there,” he said.

A few other government officials were on yesterday’s repatriation flight but there are more still in New Zealand, he confirmed.

“The trip was good and there were a few hiccups but everything was organized well.”

Dr Fisi’iahi did not say what the few hiccups were, but said he would be giving feedback to the taskforce looking after the repatriation process later this afternoon.

Meanwhile all passengers were being tested for CoViD-19 today.

“We were already tested for CoViD-19 in New Zealand [before the flight] and all 150 passengers were negative.”

Other newly repatriated Tongans include Lord Vaea, 'Aisake Tu'iono, and Sateki Ahio who were spotted arriving at the Tanoa on the quarantine buses yesterday.