While Australia is home to some of the deadliest snakes on Earth, our neighbour New Zealand is quite happily snake-free.

That was however, until an "unwanted stowaway" hitched a ride on a private jet from Brisbane to Auckland.

The suspected brown tree snake is believed to have entered the plane on Sunday from inside one of the wheels of the jet, which had been parked at a remote bay prior to making the overseas trip.

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While it was found alive on the tarmac at Auckland Airport, it was in poor condition and was likely to be euthanased.

"A Ministry for Primary Industries snake handler was quickly on the scene and managed to capture the unwanted stowaway," said spokesman Craig Hughes.

"This is clearly a one-off hitchhiker."

While brown tree snakes are not regarded as particularly dangerous to humans, Mr Hughes said they could pose a danger to the country's native wildlife.

"We don't have a snake population in New Zealand. Biosecurity officials are doing their best to make sure it stays that way," he said.

There was no sign of any other snakes in the area.