An unwanted roller-coaster ride resulted in all passengers on an Air New Zealand flight from Christchurch to Invercargill on Wednesday having their tickets refunded.
Air NZ flight NZ5715 was hit by 180kmh crosswinds during its trip down the east coast.
Passengers were warned it would be a rough ride, but the battering the plane received from air turbulence was almost constant, passenger Owen Scott said.
"It was just about nonstop. We had a 10 minute respite, and then it hit us again.
"But to be fair everything was under control.
"The pilot told us what was going on.
"It was one of those trips which, hopefully, was once in a lifetime," Mr Scott said.
Mr Scott had been in Christchurch with his wife, Cara, who is receiving cancer treatment.
"I was concentrating on her ... but there was no drama - the Air New Zealand people were marvellous."
An Air NZ spokeswoman said the flight made a normal landing, and emergency services were on hand to help some passengers who were feeling unwell.
"Air New Zealand offered customers travelling on the flight a full refund in recognition of their experience, and customers also had the option of attending a debrief with the flight crew," she said.
