New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is left STRANDED in Australia as her air force jet breaks down – and will have to fly a commercial jet home
- Jacinda Ardern flew into Australia for a two day visit but was left stranded
- Her official jet’s air data computer broke down when she was meant to leave
- The New Zealand prime minister is reportedly flying commercial home
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been left stranded in Australia after her air force jet broke down.
Stuff.co.nz reported Ms Ardern and her former TV fisherman husband Clarke Gayford will fly home on a commercial jet on Friday evening.
The family did not bring their baby girl Neve, one, with them on their two day trip Down Under.
Coming home commercial: Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford’s jet broke down in Melbourne – but she will be returning home to baby Neve on a commercial flight instead
Neve was reportedly left in the care of family members for the brief trip overseas.
The New Zealand Defence Force said that the dignitaries’ aircraft had suffered a ‘failure of its air data computer’.
A replacement part will be shipped to Australia on Saturday, a statement said, but Ms Ardern was expected to return home on a commercial flight tonight.
During her time in Melbourne, Ms Ardern confronted Mr Morrison about the Australian government’s policy of deporting Kiwi criminals back to NZ.
New Zealanders who moved to Australia as toddlers, only to grow up and commit crimes, have been regularly dumped back over the Tasman Sea.
Left high and dry: Jacinda Ardern and her ‘first man’ Clarke Gayford were expected to fly home to New Zealand on a commercial flight
Australia has deported 4000 people, including 1500 New Zealanders, since new laws were introduced in 2014.
Ms Ardern said the policy isn’t ‘fair dinkum’ and said she will not be letting the issue go.
During her fly in, fly out visit, Ms Ardern delivered a speech on good government in Melbourne in front of 2000 people.
She met Victoria’s governor Linda Dessau and discussed social policies with the state’s premier Daniel Andrews.