Delays at Auckland Airport frustrate passengers

Frustrated passengers are stuck at Auckland Airport as the wintry blast appears to be disrupting flights.

One passenger told the Herald at least five planes were stuck in a queue on the tarmac.

His Air New Zealand flight had been third in the queue for more than 30 minutes, he said, "with no advice on when we might get off the tarmac".

"Have Auckland Airport staff gone home?"

Others vented their frustrations on social media, with one person branding it "total incompetence".

Nanogirl Dr Michelle Dickinson is among those stuck on the tarmac. She tweeted that she had been sitting on the plane "waiting for a sign there will be an airbridge available soon".

She appears to be late for an event, replying to a tweet saying people, including comedian Te Radar, were waiting for her at the KiwiNet Awards.

@medickinson we are waiting with @teradar @KiwiNet_NZ Awards w/ @BaldwinsIP pic.twitter.com/ys3P01Xp7I

— Duncan (@duncanschaut) July 13, 2017

Right then Wellington - how about you ease up your weather enough so that I can make the @KiwiNet_NZ awards tonight? I need my @teradar fix pic.twitter.com/r9msVIsOAh

— Dr Michelle Dickinson (@medickinson) July 13, 2017

Justin Tomlinson said he was missing his birthday dinner being stuck on the tarmac.

@AKL_Airport not impressed. Missing my birthday dinner stuck on tarmac. No gates!!!

— Justin Tomlinson (@tomlinju) July 13, 2017

A spokesman for the airport said it was an Air New Zealand issue and referred all queries to the airline.

An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said bad weather around the country was causing delays.

"Congestion on the tarmac at Auckland Airport as a result of weather conditions around the country today is causing some delays on arrival due to gate availability," she told the Herald.

"We do apologise for the inconvenience to customers throughout the day as we've dealt with disruption due to weather and we appreciate their patience."