A New Zealand woman who died after being knocked over by the blast from a jetliner at St Maarten in the Caribbean arrived at the island on a private boat.

The 57-year-old tourist died after being seriously injured when she was blown away by the blast from a departing Boeing 737 about 6pm on Wednesday (local time), St Maarten police said, adding that she was one of several people holding on to the airport fence watching the take-off.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the New Zealand High Commission in Barbados was in contact with the woman's next-of-kin and was providing consular assistance.