‘The place was a mess’: Australians arrive home after evacuation from New Caledonia

More than 100 Australians and other tourists have landed in Brisbane from New Caledonia after the government arranged two repatriation flights due to the worsening security situation there.

In a statement on X, the foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, said 108 Australians and others had arrived back in Australia on Tuesday night on the government assisted-departure flights after riots in New Caledonia left six dead and a trail of looted shops, torched cars and road barricades.

A New Zealand defence force plane landed in Auckland with about 50 people on board, the New Zealand Herald reported.

More flights were expected in coming days to evacuate about 500 French and foreign tourists in total, France's high commission in New Caledonia said.

About 300 Australians in New Caledonia are registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Fadi Chemali, who was on the first plane to reach Australia, said those onboard had been filled with relief after days of failing to find a way off the island.

"Everyone clapped once we landed, we were all just so happy," he told Australian Associated Press shortly after landing in Brisbane on Tuesday night.