Passengers on a flight from Auckland Airport to Christchurch were asked to leave the plane due to security concerns.
A passenger onboard flight 501 received a "non-specific threat" via text message, a police communications spokeswoman said.
The flight was unloaded shortly after 7am on Wednesday and police officers with dogs boarded the plane shortly after.
Flight 501 at Auckland Airport.
"Everyone has been evacuated from the plane, while it's being checked. Everyone is safe," she said.
Air New Zealand spokeswoman Anna Cross said aviation security and police cleared the plane about 7.30am and allowed it to be reboarded.
Two MPs, Labour's Jacinda Ardern and Peeni Henare, were onboard the flight.
Airport security staff at Auckland Airport.
Passenger Reece Polglase said almost everyone was on the plane when they were told to leave.
"An announcement came over from the captain saying that we all need to get off the plane and take our luggage with us.
"As we were departing police were coming down the airbridge and the security, then explosives dogs."
He said the pilot made another announcement shortly after saying the plane was delayed for security reasons, and they had handed the aircraft over to police.
"At the moment the dogs are going through all the luggage and cargo off the plane."
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