NZ81 left Brisbane just after 2pm local time (4pm NZT), arriving in Hong Kong just before 8.30pm local time (12.30am NZT), according to flightradar24.com
Last week, NZ5145 from Auckland to Tauranga returned to Auckland because of lanterns in the airspace.
The late-night disruption eight days ago was reported to police.
“Police were called by Air Traffic Control around 9pm with a report that floating lanterns had been released from an unknown location in Tauranga, that were ending up in the flight path”, a police spokesperson said.
“Police responded to the area where the lanterns were thought to be coming from, however no one was seen and no further lanterns had been released.”
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman confirmed the flight returned to Auckland because of the lanterns in the airspace.
She downplayed any safety concerns and said pilots were notified of the lanterns well in advance.