Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran has said some of the airline’s flight crew have been ‘facing hostility’ in their neighbourhoods due to their jobs travelling overseas.
Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says Foran told him of incidents experienced by cabin crew.
"He commented to me that some of his staff and crew members, particularly those flying international routes have been facing some hostility and suspision in their local communities."
"This could be your friend or a family member, please do show tolerance and support them," Bloomfield said.
"They do not want to create Covid-19 infections in New Zealand and I know they are working very hard to ensure that doesn’t happen."
Most cases in New Zealand have been imported by residents returning from overseas.
Earlier in the pandemic Air India crew members were targeted and shunned by neighbours, involving incidents of verbal and physical harassment.
Meanwhile Air New Zealand has suspended flights to Melbourne for at least two weeks after a spike in Covid-19 cases there.
All flights from Auckland to Melbourne were cancelled until mid-July.
Ten areas in Melbourne are placed in lockdown after a surge of community transmissions in recent days.
