Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the Government shares the frustration of New Zealanders waiting to be evacuated from New Caledonia after French approval was not received to operate flights today.
At the same time, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in the island nation today in an effort to quell protests over the French government's electoral reform.
Six people, including two police officers, have been killed since tensions escalated last week.
The Government has also expressed its frustration at a pause on evacuations. (Source: 1News)
In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peters said: "We appreciate this will be frustrating for New Zealanders waiting to come home.
"We share this frustration."
Bringing home the remaining New Zealanders in New Caledonia was an "urgent priority", he said.
"Our aim remains to get these New Zealanders home as soon as possible."
New Zealand's consular team, working alongside Australia, was focused today on moving Kiwis from other parts of the country into the capital Nouméa in anticipation of further flights.
"We continue to engage urgently with the French Government in Wellington, Nouméa and Paris asking that it approves the next flights home as rapidly as possible," said Peters.
Fifty New Zealanders returned home from New Caledonia this morning, touching down in Auckland in the early hours of Thursday morning.
A French-operated flight carried the stranded Kiwis to Brisbane, with a New Zealand Defence Force flight arranged for the travel to Auckland International Airport.
"We thank our French and Australian partners for making these returns possible," said Peters.
Kiwis feel they have been "forgotten" about
A couple staying at a Nouméa resort told 1News they were relying more on family and friends back in New Zealand telling them what was happening rather than anyone in New Caledonia.
The pair, who asked to remain anonymous, said all the Australian guests left the hotel yesterday and that just four Kiwis remain with "no word" as to when they might be leaving.
"Our frustration is that only four of us at the resort have been left behind and not even any communication on when we would be next.
"It feels like we have been forgotten about."
Contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been limited, they said.
"We got a generic email last night that flights are cancelled and possibly resuming Friday, but no idea if that means Friday, or Saturday or when.
"We had to ask around on who to contact, my partner got a phone call last Friday from MFAT and that has been our only direct contact until we have found a contact ourselves."
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