Prime Minister John Key is still en route to India after unexpectedly having to spend the night in Queensland when a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) aircraft broke down.
A second RNZAF Boeing 757 was sent to Townsville to take the delegation to India. Photo: RNZ / Demelza Leslie
Prime Minister John Key and an 80-strong delegation had to spend the night in Townsville, Queensland, after the Air Force plane carrying them broke down during its stopover in Australia.
Air Force engineers grounded the plane after two aborted takeoffs and a replacement aircraft arrived to take them to India today. It was due to arrive in Djakarta shortly after 5pm (NZT) today.
Listen to the latest from RNZ political reporter Demelza Leslie
The first day's schedule, in Mumbai, has been scrapped but Mr Key said the major focus of the four-day trip - pushing negotiations for a free trade agreement - would continue.
He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi.
Delegation member Gail Gillon, University of Canterbury pro vice-chancellor, said the trip was good chance to promote New Zealand and make it clear to potential students there were high expectations for the quality of applications, and level of academic work.
She said the university had had no problems with fraudulent student visa applications from India.