Queenstown is hosting an annual conference of air force chiefs from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The New Zealand Defence Force issued a statement on Sunday announcing New Zealand was hosting the annual conference with ''sessions at several venues'', without identifying those venues.
A trusted source told the Otago Daily Times Queenstown was hosting the five-day conference - information which was backed up by the arrival of a US military plane at Queenstown Airport yesterday afternoon.
The visit is understood to be co-ordinated by Wing Commander Shaun Sexton, the Air Force military officer who adjudicated in a military tribunal into the Anzac Day 2010 helicopter crash which killed three crewmen and seriously injured a fourth.
Aircraft involved in ferrying the dignitaries include a C-40, the military version of the Boeing 737-700, and several NH90 helicopters, some of which arrived at the RNZAF air base at Ohakea, near Palmerston North, late last month.
In Sunday's statement, Air Force chief Air Vice-Marshal Mike Yardley, who was thought to be in Queenstown yesterday, said discussions at such meetings were of great benefit.
''Each air force goes about its business its own way but there is also extensive common ground.
''We have much to learn from each other.
''We all meet regularly in exercises around the globe and we have other connections such as meetings of subject matter experts, and exchanges at all levels of our operations.
''This meeting between air force leaders builds on those day-to-day relationships.''
