Air New Zealand team leader Alistair Bevin said conditions at the Dunedin International Airport deteriorated about 10.30am yesterday, with the cloud base down to about 70m.
A Boeing aeroplane flying from Wellington to Dunedin with 70 people on board had to be diverted to Christchurch, and 133 passengers due to board for a return journey were stranded.
Turbo-prop aeroplanes were still able to use the airport.
Mr Bevin said two busloads of passengers went to Christchurch later in the day where they would make later flights.
Among them was a party of 49 Welsh rugby supporters. The All Blacks and Welsh rugby team had managed to leave yesterday morning.
Mr Bevin said Dunedin Airport was not the only South Island airport affected by weather yesterday.
It is understood that some passengers would have been sent by bus to other centres when low cloud affected Queenstown Airport yesterday. Details were not available last night.
