6 Jul 2016

Hundreds hit by fog at Auckland Airport

6:44 pm on 6 July 2016

Fog is continuing to cause delays for travellers at Auckland Airport, with hundreds of passengers affected.

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Photo: RNZ /Cole Eastham-Farrelly

About 84 domestic arrivals and 78 departures have been cancelled. Eight domestic departures are delayed.

Air New Zealand has cancelled all regional flights.

The airport has advised passengers to check with their airlines or its iPhone app for the latest information.

Some passengers are having to find their own way home while some are being offered shuttles and buses by the airlines. The fog is not expected to lift for several more hours.

About 650 Jetstar passengers were affected, and spokesman Phil Boeyen said they could either opt to take another flight or get a refund.

He said it was likely the earliest available flights would be tomorrow.

The Novotel Airport Hotel said it was now full after stranded passengers snapped up remaining rooms.

Air New Zealand said it was still trying to find out how many of its passengers were affected by the delayed and cancelled flights.

Looking ahead, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) issued a heavy-rain warning for the east of the North Island over the next two days.

An institute spokesperson said a series of low-pressure systems would cross the Tasman from tonight, bringing heavy localised rain with the potential to cause flooding and slips.

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Photo: RNZ /Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Light rain in Wairarapa tomorrow would become more intense early Friday, they said.

MetService said occasionally heavy southeasterly rain was likely across Hawke's Bay and Gisborne on Friday and Saturday, with a moderate chance it could reach "warning levels".

There was also moderate chances of severe southerly or south-east gales in Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Wellington, Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Buller and Westland.