Fog delays tuatara, kiwi

A tuatara, a kiwi and thousands of travellers had their journeys disrupted when fog enveloped Wellington Airport for the 13th time this year.

The airport was closed at 8.30pm on Wednesday and reopened for flights about 9am yesterday to the cheers of waiting passengers.

Sue Keall of Victoria University had an anxious wait for a flight to Blenheim with a tuatara in her hand luggage - an approved method of transport.

A great spotted kiwi, to be released in Nelson Lakes National Park, spent Wednesday night in Wellington Zoo after its flight was cancelled.