Fog frustrates Wanganui travellers

Four flights between Wanganui and Auckland were cancelled because of heavy fog that closed Auckland Airport yesterday.
Air New Zealand representative Craig McClelland said the 6.40am and 12.40pm flights from Wanganui were cancelled, affecting 18 passengers, with the 8.50am and midday flights into Wanganui also cancelled.
The 4.20pm flight into Wanganui was an hour late, with most of the passengers on board having already sat around Auckland Airport all day.
Aroha Ririnui from Tauranga was booked to fly to Wanganui on the early morning flight, but after finally arriving yesterday afternoon, spoke to the Wanganui Chronicle about being fogged in.
"I spent all morning instead staring at the thick fog... you couldn't see out the windows."
Ms Ririnui said the fog did not lift until about lunchtime.
Katherine Opie, who was coming to Wanganui to visit family, said she was delayed, "but at least I'm here now".
However, Father Daniel Coutine, who had initially travelled from Singapore and Tokyo, said he was delighted to be in Wanganui at last.
Father Coutine is a traditional St Pius X priest, and is staying at St Anthony's, the traditional Catholic church in Gonville.
He said he was not bothered by the fog in Auckland.
More than 50 international and domestic flights were either delayed or cancelled in Auckland yesterday.
Passengers were advised to check the airport website to see if their flights had been affected, Auckland Airport spokeswoman Katie Moore said.
Fourteen domestic departures had been delayed and eight cancelled.
Fourteen domestic arrivals had been delayed and 10 cancelled.
Seven international departures and one arrival had been delayed.
Both departures and arrivals were affected by the fog, with flights to and from Tauranga, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Taupo among those cancelled or delayed.
- with NZPA