Commuters and travellers battle murk and airport-light malfunctions

A "completely unexpected" generator malfunction has been blamed for turning Auckland Airport into a "Third World" service amid a heavy blanket of fog yesterday.

The Airways Corporation, which manages airport infrastructure, said an electronic fault in its back-up runway lights generator led to delays in severe fog at the airport.

Flights in and out were delayed, and in some cases re-routed. The heavy blanket of fog was widespread from the North Shore to Parnell and south of the city.

Commuters on city roads were delayed and peak time ferry services were disrupted before the fog eventually burned off about 10am.

Three people were hurt in separate road accidents within 40 minutes of each other between 4am and 5am, including a smash in Devonport, where a car rolled on Lake Rd, trapping the driver, who had to be cut from the wreckage.

One person was critically hurt in a head-on, two-car crash on the Southwestern Motorway, and a truck and a car collided in Middlemore, seriously injuring the car driver.

Green Party co-leader Rod Donald, who was among delayed travellers at the airport, said more money needed to be spent on basic maintenance. It made New Zealand look like a Third World country when it could not manage to keep airport lights on, he said.

Mr Donald blamed Auckland International Airport's pursuit of profit for the breakdown but was later forced to apologise.

"I incorrectly stated that the faulty back-up runway generators were owned by AIAL, when in fact they're owned by the state-owned Airways Corporation. I apologise to AIAL for my mistake."

Ken Mitchell, spokesman for state-owned Airways, said back-up systems nationwide were "rigorously monitored and maintained" and the malfunction was completely unexpected.

Flights could not operate for safety reasons without the back-up generator. Six flights were diverted to Christchurch and Wellington during the worst of the fog.

Airport spokesman Haldane Dodd said departures were also delayed but on most long-haul international flights, the delay could be made up during the flight.

Fog disruptions at the airport are rare. Last year fog caused problems on four mornings but the annual average was three mornings.

Mr Dodd said because the airport was bordered on two sides by the Manukau Harbour there was usually enough breeze to clear the fog before it became a problem.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the three days of morning fog this week had been caused by the highs, which had in turn provided clear nights.

But a low front was moving in and there was unlikely to be more fog after a small amount this morning.

additional reporting: NZPA