Covid 19 coronavirus: thousands of people heeded the call to ‘get home now’ as the pandemic accelerated

By RNZ

It has been just over a year since the government advised all New Zealanders traveling abroad to return home due to Covid-19.

Subsequently, more than 6,000 people were repatriated from 38 countries on 120 flights.

On March 18 last year, then-Foreign Minister Winston Peters urged anyone traveling abroad to return home if they could, before borders were closed and air routes dried up.

“If you’re traveling, you will likely be disconnected shortly, so if you can get home, come home now,” he said at the time.

The government evacuation program lasted until November.

Figures provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade show that these flights helped 6292 people to return to New Zealand.

Almost 15,000 New Zealanders are still registered on the SafeTravel website as foreigners.

– RNZ