An Air New Zealand Boeing 777 flight from Narita airport in Japan is quarantined on the tarmac of Auckland airport this morning as paramedics in protective suits assess the conditions of 73 passengers shown flu-like symptoms.
Many of those affected are reported to be part of a school group returning from a trip to Tokyo.
Regional hospitals have been placed on alert, as have ambulance services, and protective breathing masks are being distributed at the airport.
The flight is carrying 274 passengers and crew.