Air New Zealand Faces Scrutiny Over Tauranga Flight Cancellations Amid White

December 1, 2025 at 05:00 PM•2 min read

Air New Zealand faced criticism for flight cancellations at Tauranga Airport, impacting passengers due to volcanic ash from White Island and prompting

Key Points

1Air New Zealand cancelled 38 flights in November due to volcanic ash from White Island, significantly impacting services at Tauranga Airport.
2A Tauranga doctor faced two flight cancellations in two weeks, missing a key presentation and criticizing Air NZ's communication regarding ash disruptions.
3Airlines prioritize safety by proactively cancelling flights when volcanic ash is predicted in flight paths, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of ash movement.
4White Island has maintained Alert Level 3 since October, producing ash plumes that, while minor, necessitate cautious aviation responses in the Bay of Plenty region.

Air New Zealand has come under fire for repeated flight cancellations affecting Tauranga, with one doctor experiencing two disruptions within two weeks due to ash from the active White Island volcano. The affected passenger, a Tauranga doctor, missed a crucial keynote address to 1100 delegates in Christchurch, for which he had prepared for three months. He emphasized the need for greater transparency and earlier communication from the airline regarding such disruptions.

On one occasion, his flight was among 16 cancellations to or from Tauranga that day, while on another, it was one of eight. The cancellations stemmed from windblown ash originating from White Island, an active marine volcano situated approximately 50km offshore of Whakatāne. Air Chathams services at Whakatāne Airport were also impacted by the ash warnings, highlighting the broader regional effect of the volcanic activity.

Air New Zealand's chief safety and risk officer, Nathan McGraw, confirmed that 38 flights were cancelled throughout November due to volcanic ash. He stated that while the airline aims to provide as much notice as possible, the movement of volcanic ash is often unpredictable, with conditions capable of changing rapidly. McGraw reiterated that safety remains the paramount concern, necessitating proactive cancellations when ash is predicted to enter flight paths, as it can compromise visibility and potentially affect aircraft systems. Tauranga Airport manager Ray Dumble echoed these sentiments, emphasizing safety as the priority for all flight cancellations.

GeoNet, New Zealand's geological hazard information service, provides critical intelligence to airlines, including the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and its Volcano Monitoring Group. White Island has been at Alert Level 3, indicating minor eruptive activity, since late October. GeoNet volcanologists have noted the island has been generating "weakly loaded volcanic ash plumes" throughout November, occasionally punctuated by "more visible energetic plumes" rising up to 3km, which contain fine volcanic ash particles. While significant ashfall on the mainland is considered unlikely without a major increase in activity, gas and fine particles from these plumes can be carried towards the Bay of Plenty coastline under certain wind conditions, posing a risk to aviation.