Woman faces being stranded in New Zealand

A WOMAN from Leeds fears she could be among hundreds of Britons ‘stranded’ in New Zealand as the country goes into lockdown.

New Zealand will move into Level 4 COVID response tomorrow, with dozens of flights cancelled and transit routes beginning to close.

Katie Lowther, who lives in the Kirkstall area of Leeds, was enjoying a two-week holiday before Emirates cancelled all commercial flights, including her return home on Friday.

She is concerned she will be stuck in the country when it goes into lockdown for four weeks.

About 200 stranded Brits have joined forces in a WhatsApp group and say they are unable to get through to the British Embassy, in Wellington and Auckland.

They have sent a letter to their local MPs, urging them to help and provide reassurance that they can return home.

Ms Lowther, 22, said: “I have had to drive back to Auckland today on very little sleep to go to the Embassy when it opens at 9am.

“We haven’t had any contact from the Embassy, no one can get through on the phone after being on hold for hours.

“The only message we’ve had is on Twitter, which still hasn’t given us any solution. I’m actually stranded.”

The British Embassy in New Zealand says it is trying to find a solution but warned there are no ‘easy fixes’ and Katie is worried she could be stuck in the country for weeks.

Laura Clarke, British High Commissioner to New Zealand, tweeted today: “I know there is real anxiety amongst British nationals in NZ right now.

“It’s hard to get flights, transit routes are closing, and NZ is moving to Level 4 COVID response on Wednesday. It is a very stressful situation.”