Government to assist with New Zealanders & Pacific Island nationals departures from Tel Aviv

The New Zealand Government is partnering with Etihad Airways to facilitate the departure of New Zealanders and other eligible passengers from Pacific countries out of Tel Aviv, following the outbreak of armed conflict in Israel and Gaza, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has announced.

At least four groups of Pacific Islanders have been in Israel since late September, many of them there for a christian pilgrimage participating in Jerusalem's Feast of Tabernacles celebration.

Fiji Airways had flown to Tel Aviv for the first time nearly 3 weeks ago carrying a large group, as the Pacific Islands nation seeks to build closer ties with Israel after Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka pledged to open an embassy there next year.

Last Thursday Fiji Airways managed to repatriate 243 passengers back to Fiji with almost 200 Fijians, 8 Samoans and citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the US onboard.  

However, for a group of Tongans from New Zealand and a group from the Cook Islands, it has been much more difficult to get out with many commercial airlines cancelling flights.

Pesi Sikalu is part of the Tongan contingent from New Zealand who had gone over for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  It had been a dream for a lot of the group, many of them older travellers. 

The dream was made a reality but with the ongoing conflict in Israel it's turning into an ordeal the group were not prepared for.

"We are kept well here but we shouldn't forget that this is a privilege and it shouldn't keep us insensitive to the very real devastation that's raging right outside our doors. 

We had a very real experience on Tuesday or Wednesday where sirens alarmed while we were outside and had to take cover in a small shelter under a building. We could hear the bombs and feel the vibrations from the walls we were standing up against and the ground beneath. When we arrived back to the hotel, another siren alarmed that day in the afternoon and we had to quickly take cover in our floor's shelter rooms. Those two experiences were enough for me and our team, and just urged us to take action to get home." Pesi added.

Pesi shared that although the group are in a hotel the experiences were a reminder that their security could be compromised at any moment.  

"Anything can happen and so we take every moment, every hour and every day that we are alive as a blessing. With that being said, every day that we are here is another day of uncertainty."  

A Cook Islands delegation are also in the same boat hoping to get out as soon as possible.  There are 28 Cook Islanders in the group and mostly have been in good spirits as they wait it out.

Annabelle Tatuava said they've mostly been playing ping pong and doing laundry while they wait in lockdown but after a week had tried to get out but were also finding it difficult with flights being cancelled.

"We were supposed to fly out on Korean Airlines but they've cancelled their flights too so we've just been trying to get a flight out as far as Dubai at least.

We're even thinking of just rocking up at the airport to see if we can get whatever flights there are because the internet is not great where we are as well" she said.

Annabelle confirmed they'd registered on the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs SafeTravel system which is what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been encouraging NZ citizens to do.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has stressed that the situation in Israel & Gaza remains highly volatile and is encouraging New Zealanders who can depart the region by other commercial airlines should do so now but also reiterated that the Government will assist New Zealanders and Paific island nationals who are having difficulty securing a commercial seat out of Tel Aviv. 

“The initial flight will depart Tel Aviv, in coming days, arriving into Abu Dhabi. Passengers will be responsible for onwards travel from Abu Dhabi to New Zealand, including costs incurred for that leg.

“There is only a limited number of seats we can secure at any given time, so it is important that those wishing to leave, who already have commercial bookings, do not forgo those tickets for these flights because there is no guarantee a seat can be assigned." Nanaia stated.

Pesi Sakula says that she feels the NZ embassies and foreign affairs haven't been showing urgency or much concern for their situation - at least in her experiece with them and said that their advice has been unsatisfactory as they didn't seem to understand the dangerous situation they're in.

"The aircraft they are providing is on the 15th, three days from now and we are having to pay to be on this aircraft." Pesi said

"Further, this flight has restricted seats, based on a first in first serve, and this aircraft will not be taking passengers home but to another country, where those on the flight are left to organise their own travel from that country back to our home in NZ. I believe that more can be done and more should be done." 

A spokesperson for MFAT provided a statement via Radio New Zealand regarding the cost of the flights which are $330 each and noted that "seats are limited."

"Our goal is to ensure those New Zealanders who wish to depart Israel and are able to safely do so, can do so and as quickly as possible. We are mindful that a number of other New Zealanders are departing via commercial means, at full cost. We need to strike the right balance."

The first flight was due to leave for Abu Dhabi on Saturday the 14th October and 90 seats were available for New Zealand and Pacific people wanting to leave.

"Our consular support staff are currently working through who will take up that opportunity in this first flight."

The second Etihad Airways flight would leave in the following days, and the government would then assess the situation as it continued to assist people to leave, Mahuta said.

The key message was "if you have the opportunity to get out, get out".

"We are doing all that we can to ensure that there are assisted travel arrangements."

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Cover image from Annabelle Tatuava 

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