Air New Zealand is sending another aircraft to Niue this evening after its flight to Auckland was forced to turn back.
The airline says flight NZ75 returned to Niue this morning at 5am owing to a mechanical problem.
The plane is now grounded at Hanan International Airport.
A passenger, Salome Guest, says about an hour after take-off, before breakfast was served, the pilot announced that the aircraft would have to return to Niue.
Mrs Guest says she understands a bird may have struck an engine.
Air New Zealand began a weekly service to Niue just two weeks ago.
