WELLINGTON, March 5 — New Zealand has ordered two military C‑130 Hercules aircraft for deployment to the Middle East as part of contingency planning to assist in the evacuation of its citizens amid escalating conflict in the region. The move comes as geopolitical tensions continue to intensify following recent hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Thursday that Wellington will send consular staff along with two New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) aircraft to the region so they are ready “when conditions allow” for possible civilian evacuation operations. He urged New Zealanders in the area to “shelter in place” or leave if it is safe and practical to do so.
Peters emphasised that while “we cannot be sure when and how any civilian evacuation operations might be possible,” the government wants to be prepared to assist as soon as conditions on the ground make it feasible. The C‑130 Hercules planes would be used to transport people out of danger zones to a safe country, where they could then board commercial flights home.
The New Zealand government estimates that over 3,000 of its citizens are currently registered as living in the Middle East, with 23 in Iran and 62 in Israel. Peters also said the evacuation effort may extend to citizens of other countries if they have legitimate reasons to be on board the evacuation flights.
As the region’s airspace remains largely closed and many commercial flights have been cancelled due to the conflict, New Zealand is exploring all possible options for assisting its nationals, including discussions with commercial airlines on potential charter arrangements.
Defence Minister Judith Collins added that decisions on the exact deployment locations for the consular teams and aircraft would be made based on safety and operational factors, and that some details cannot be disclosed publicly for security reasons.
New Zealand’s effort mirrors broader international mobilizations, as several countries are actively working to evacuate their citizens from the Middle East amid ongoing hostilities and heightened risks to civilian safety.
