Auckland Airport runway lights go out

Flights were grounded at Auckland International Airport last night. Photo / APN

Travel plans of thousands of people were thrown into chaos last night when Auckland International Airport's runaway lights stopped working.

Emergency services were alerted as a precaution as air traffic control staff diverted flights to Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

At press time, 13 flights had been diverted and at least 10 waiting to take off had been cancelled. Further flights were delayed and were uncertain of take off.

Airport spokesman Richard Llewellyn said: "The lights along the edge of the runway - there's been a problem with them. They're not working."

He said the lights were operated by air traffic control company Airways Corporation, which owned and operated the runway. He said staff had been scrambled to find and fix the fault.

He said that Airways Corporation had been unable to give an estimate as to how long it would take to get the lights working again. The number of people affected would remain reasonably static overnight. The airport closed about 1am and was not due to open again until just before daylight.

Llewellyn said the runway lights were used as part of the air traffic control network at Auckland airport.

The lights went out about 10.40pm as planes prepared to take off.

The incoming flights, including international carriers from Singapore, Sydney and Tonga, were diverted to either Wellington or Christchurch.

Airways Corporation could not be contacted for comment.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said there were also five Air New Zealand international flights that had been unable to depart.

In March this year, an Air New Zealand flight from Sydney to Wellington was diverted to land in Auckland after pilots were alerted to a potential problem with the hydraulic system and wheel. Passengers stayed in Auckland overnight.