An evacuation flight for Fijians stuck in New Zealand left Auckland on Friday, but prices associated with quarantine meant at least one would-be passenger could not get home.

An Auckland woman Leilani, who asked that only her first name be used, said her Uncle was meant to be heading home on the Fiji Airways flight to Nadi but had to cancel at the last minute due to additional costs once he arrived in Fiji.

PETER CLARK A repatriation flight from Auckland to Fiji left on Friday (file photo).

"My uncle had been staying with us and was due to fly home on April 9, that was cancelled, so when we read about the repatriation flight earlier this week I called the airlines and was able to get him a seat as we'd already paid for a ticket."

Leilani said her uncle, who speaks little English, had been looking forward to getting home as he was missing his wife.

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The flight was due to leave Auckland just after 2pm on Friday, but the night before Leilani received an email from Fiji Airways stating her uncle would have to be quarantined in a hotel for 28 days upon arrival and would be responsible for paying for the room and any food and drink costs.

"That worried me. We knew it would be a lot of money. I mean, it's not cheap to stay somewhere for an entire month.

"If we sent him back and he couldn't pay for it, what would happen?"

The family decided to go ahead with the flight, until at Auckland Airport they were told by other passengers, it was required everyone paid $6000 upon arrival into Fiji.

"I tried to call Fiji Airways to ask, but they couldn't tell me if it was true or not, we told uncle not to go because he won't be able to afford that money on the spot."

Leilani said her uncle lived in a small village in Fiji and worked as a farmer on a plantation.

"They live off the land, he doesn't have the same amount of money someone working in New Zealand would."

Now she doesn't know when her uncle will be able to return home.

"It's been hard for him, there's been the cyclone over there and it's hard for him to contact his wife as there isn't internet connection throughout the village.

"This just shouldn't happen. It's unfair they have to pay when there's no choice about having to stay in a hotel."

On Thursday, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, announced the quarantine period for those arriving in Fiji would change from 14 days to 28 after a new case of the virus was confirmed.

SUPPLIED Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama announced Fiji's quarantine period would be extended on Thursday (file photo).

"As we have seen, the time that is needed to ensure it cannot be spread can be far longer than the world first thought. It's why we are now extending the quarantine period for anyone who is newly-quarantined and to those who currently are waiting out their initial 14-day period," Bainimarama said.

There are 17 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Fiji.

Fiji Airways have been approached by Stuff for comment.