The government is securing a flight to bring New Zealanders home from the Philippines this weekend.
Photo: AFP / FILE
Foreign Minister Winston Peters says the government is working with Philippine Airlines and international partners on flight arrangements to bring New Zealanders and their family members home.
The flight will depart from Manila on Sunday 19 April.
Transportation options are also being considered for New Zealanders in other parts of the Philippines so they can catch the flight.
"New Zealanders in the Philippines are experiencing challenging circumstances under quarantine restrictions, and difficulty in getting home with no domestic transit options. We are working with Philippine Airlines and international partners on flight arrangements to bring New Zealanders and their family members home," Peters said in a statement.
Peters said The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was continuing to search for ways to get stranded New Zealanders home, but that government-assisted flights would only be explored in exceptional circumstances, "when all other options have been exhausted".
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"We strongly advise that New Zealanders overseas should be seeking to shelter safely where they are or return home by commercial means where possible," Peters said.
Any New Zealanders in the Philippines wishing to register interest in the flight should email the New Zealand Embassy in Manila: NZEMManila@mfat.govt.nz
On arrival in New Zealand, all passengers on this flight will enter immediate quarantine.
On Sunday Peters confirmed the government was in discussions to bring stranded Kiwis home from India.
Those taking up the government flights will need to contribute to the cost, which will be comparable to recent government-assisted departures from other locations, such as Peru which cost more than $5000 per person.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says this has been the largest consular response they've ever undertaken. But without further flights, other New Zealanders remain stuck overseas, desperately wanting to return home.
- If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP - don't show up at a medical centre
