Members of the Exclusive Brethren are remaining tight-lipped about the arrival of a 767-300 at Dunedin International Airport this morning.
The aircraft, believed to be the largest to land at Dunedin's airport, is due to arrive at 8.10am and depart soon after, at 9am.
The Otago Daily Times understands it has been chartered by the Exclusive Brethren to ferry more than 160 church members from around Otago and Southland to a gathering further north.
The Marlborough Express reported yesterday the church's world leader, Bruce Hale, from Australia, was said to be among church members flying in to Marlborough on private aircraft earlier this week.
Marquees had also been set up at the church's Westmount School in Marlborough, and buses lined the road leading to its entrance, the paper reported.
Otago members of the Exclusive Brethren declined to comment when contacted by the ODT yesterday.
Air New Zealand's new Dunedin manager, Murray Christofferson, said the aircraft - a 767-300 series - was capable of carrying 230 passengers, but would arrive empty and leave with 167 people on board.
It was the largest Air New Zealand aircraft, and ''potentially'' the largest of any kind to land at Dunedin's airport, he said.
A slightly smaller 767-200 charter flight had landed before, as had the New Zealand Air Force's 757-200s, but ''this is quite a big one for Dunedin airport'', he said.
''It's very uncommon,'' he said.
A fully laden 767-300 would be unable to take off from the 1900m-long Dunedin airport, but this morning's flight would only two-thirds full and carry no cargo, Mr Christofferson said.
''Getting out won't be any issue whatsoever.''
