WELLINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A New Zealand government plane headed to the French overseas territory of New Caledonia on Tuesday as the first in a series of proposed flights to begin bringing New Zealanders home.
"New Zealanders in New Caledonia have faced a challenging few days, and bringing them home has been an urgent priority for the government," said New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
The situation in New Caledonia remains dynamic, and New Zealand officials are continuing to work with French counterparts and other partners especially Australia to understand what is needed to ensure the safety of Kiwis there, said Peters, also the deputy prime minister.
"In cooperation with France and Australia, we are working on subsequent flights in coming days," Peters said.
Tuesday's flight carried around 50 passengers with the most pressing needs from the capital Noumea to New Zealand's Auckland, he said, adding passengers for subsequent flights will be prioritized by consular staff.
The escalating situation and violent protests in Noumea are of serious concern across the Pacific Islands region, Peters said last week.
Six people have been killed and hundreds more injured in riots that began earlier in May after the French parliament passed laws that granted French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years or more the right to vote in local elections, local media reported.
French President Emmanuel Macron on May 15 declared a state of emergency in New Caledonia, a French territory comprising dozens of islands in the South Pacific. ■
