People stuck in other parts of the country have another 40 hours as of 8am to fly home. 

The Prime Minister announced a 48-hour grace period from 11.59 last night.   

Air New Zealand is continuing to operate its current schedule around the country.  

CEO Greg Foran told Mike Hosking this time, it's all played out quickly. 

"We've got about 800 flights to get done over the next 48 hours, about 50,00 passengers."

Foran says crew and staff are well-rehearsed and the airline has been shuffling planes and crew to enable the flights to continue. 

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