Yesterday the Maui pipeline which provides much of the northern North Island with natural gas was shut down due to a leak. The leak is located in a remote area north of New Plymouth. It is expected it may take approximately 3-4 days to repair.
Not all supply lines have been affected however all larger commercial and industrial users have been told to stop using gas until further notice. Some hospitals are back up and running using gas from another line. Residential and other users have been told to conserve gas.
For visitors to northern New Zealand this means they may experience some disruption with hot water supplies at the larger hotels where natural gas is the prime heating source. Some affected hotels have been able to implement back-up plans and maintain hot water; others use electricity and so are not affected. Smaller operators, e.g. Bed & Breakfasts, are unaffected. gas leak.
The following is a list of hotels, with their status:
| Accor Hotels | Most properties without supply |
| CityLife | Operating on reduced water supply |
| Copthorne’s AKL | Operating on reserve hot water supplies |
| Heritage Auckland | Not affected at present |
| Holiday Inn Airport | Hot water turned off 10am-3pm to conserve supplies |
| Hotel Grand Chancellor AKL City | Pool closed. Restaurant closed. Hot water in rooms okay at present |
| Hotel Grand Chancellor Apt | Operating on limited reserve hot water supplies |
| Kingsgate ROT | Clients being relocated to Millennium as they have thermal water heating |
| Langham | Not affected. They have moved over to replacement generator |
| Pullman |
No hot water for an estimated 36 hours. No cancellation fee if clients wish to cancel and relocate |
| Rendezvous | Not affected at present |
| Rydges Auckland | Not affected at present |
| Sebel Auckland | Not affected at present |
| Sky City and Sky City Grand | Not affected at present – back-up systems providing adequate cover |
