Jacinda Ardern's attempt to reach Antarctica has been thwarted due to bad weather, and her mission south may be abandoned.
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The New Zealand prime minister left Christchurch on Tuesday morning bound for the frozen continent, but her flight turned back two hours into the long journey due to poor conditions in Antarctica's McMurdo Sound.
"It's not uncommon," Antarctica New Zealand spokeswoman Deborah Diaz told AAP.
"Travelling to the coldest, windiest, most remote continent on Earth is challenging. We have a term for it, it's called a boomerang flight."
The C-130 Hercules with Ms Ardern on board left NZ about 10am but turned back just south of sub-Antarctic outpost Auckland Island, at the 51st parallel south.
Their destination, Scott Base, is at the 77th parallel and was still six hours away.
"Safety is our number one focus," Antarctica New Zealand general manager Megan Nicholl said.
The prime minister is yet to decide whether she will make another attempt to head south on what was to be a four-day mission, including two on the ice at Scott Base.
Acting prime minister Grant Robertson said Ms Ardern would consider weather forecasts before another mission.
"Certainly I know the prime minister and the travelling party would like to get back down there. The weather conditions at McMurdo do change quickly," he said.
"Options are currently being assessed as to whether to make another attempt to travel in the next day or so."
Scott Base, NZ's major research facility on Antarctica, this year marks 65 years of service. The government has funded a $NZ306 million ($A277 million) capital redevelopment, its first major overhaul in four decades.
"Antarctica is part of NZ's heritage and future and we're committed to its protection as a natural reserve for peace, science and co-operation," Ms Ardern said last week on announcing the trip.
It is the second aborted flight Ms Ardern has suffered this month due to poor weather.
A visit to Hastings on October 13 to announce $NZ192 million ($A173 million) in infrastructure support for housing was scuttled by low fog at Napier airport, leaving her Air New Zealand flight to return to Wellington after two landing attempts.
Australian Associated Press
