Air NZ plane sparks emergency but lands safety

An Air New Zealand Boeing 767 has been towed off the runway at Auckland International Airport after a major alert as it landed with smoke coming from the front nose wheel.

The aircraft with 155 people on board was heading to Auckland from Tonga and reported problems shortly before it was due to land at 6.30am today.

Fire Service shift controller Mau Barbara said the aircraft, which had six tonnes of fuel on board, landed safely.

As a precaution several appliances were sent to the airport, including a rescue tender and a foam tender but they were not needed.

All the passengers got off the aircraft safely.

Details of what caused the problem were not available.

- NZPA