Pacific Islanders quarantined in New Zealand, after being evacuated from China over coronavirus fears, have beenreleased today after passing health checks.
Evacuees prepare to leave the quarantine area at Whangaparāoa. Photo: Supplied
Thirty people from Pacific countries were among the 193 people evacuated from China on an Air New Zealand charter flight two weeks ago.
They spent the fortnight in quarantine at a naval base at Whangaparāoa, north of Auckland.
The group includes 17 PNG students evacuated from Wuhan - the Chinese epicentre of the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak.
According to the national broadcaster NBC, the students are expected to return to PNG this week.
The Secretary for Higher Education Science Research and Technology said he was informed by New Zealand government officials that all 17 students were healthy and fit to travel to PNG.
As well as the PNG students, there are five Samoans, four Tongans, two people from Fiji, one person from Kiribati and one from the Federated States of Micronesia.
The first group of Samoans evacuated from China will return to Samoa on Saturday.
The first evacuees leave quarantine at the Whangaparāoa military base. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook