Trouble on first Rotorua trans-Tasman flight

Rotorua's first trans-Tasman flight to Sydney yesterday was hampered when a passenger had to be escorted off the plane by police.

The Air New Zealand Airbus A320 flight was scheduled to depart from Rotorua's newly branded international airport about 3.30pm, but was delayed about 45 minutes by a man's behaviour.

Air NZ spokesman Mark Street said the pilot in command called for police assistance after making a careful assessment that the customer was exhibiting behaviour to a level where he was uncomfortable having him onboard.

"There was alcohol was involved," Mr Street told NZPA.

Police, the crew and the customer talked extensively before police escorted the man off the flight.

The man is also understood to have made racist remarks to a Maori kapa haka group who performed at the airport to welcome the first flight from Sydney, which arrived earlier in the afternoon.

The trans-Tasman flights, which cost millions and took nearly a decade to implement, will run twice a week.

- NZPA