French Polynesia repatriated residents from Auckland

Photo: Supplied

A group of 27 French Polynesian residents has been repatriated from New Zealand, including the woman whose baby died after being rushed to Auckland.

The Air Tahiti Nui plane was chartered by business people who imported 120 cubic metres of merchandise.

In March, the Covid-19 outbreak prompted a rupture in air links to New Zealand, which will remain suspended despite French Polynesia opening its borders next month to international travellers who on departure are certified to be coronavirus-free.

Most travellers repatriated from Auckland this week had been on a list compiled by the French embassy.

The woman had pleaded for a return for weeks after her seriously ill child died despite last month’s emergency operation.

They had been flown to New Zealand by the French military which in early May already, in a separate flight, had repatriated 20 stranded residents to Tahiti.

The baby will be buried on Saturday.

Source: RNZ