A small passenger airplane with 44 people aboard has made a safe emergency landing in New Zealand after a nose wheel failed.

The Bombardier Dash 8 plane was on a flight from Hamilton in central New Zealand to the capital, Wellington, when it was diverted to an airfield at Blenheim after the pilot advised air traffic controllers of the emergency.

Fire crews were on full alert but the plane touched down safely and nobody was injured.

Airways New Zealand said the incident will be investigated.

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