Information supplied by Immigration New Zealand said one man was refused entry because he was convicted in 1999 for possession of heroin and sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, another was convicted in 2007 for possession of child pornography and received a 12-month suspended prison sentence and the third ''was found to be in possession of a restricted drug, and a positive swab for ecstasy was detected on his luggage''.
The third passenger also admitted recent use of cocaine and marijuana while in the United States and regular use of those drugs in Australia.
It was understood one of the men was in Queenstown to compete in a poker tournament.
After representatives from Immigration interview the passengers, police can then act on behalf of Immigration and detain the passengers overnight before they are put on the next available return flight.
Immigration said all three passengers had since left New Zealand.
