NEW ZEALAND: New Plymouth-Bound Passenger On Wrong Plane, Lands In Tauranga

Two Hong Kong brothers have been reunited after one of them got lost in transit in New Zealand.

Last week, after spending 24 hours in the air, a sleepy Roger Ting accidentally got on the wrong connecting flight in Auckland and ended up in 310 kilometres away from his destination.

The 17-year-old New Plymouth Boys' High School student was on his way back from Hong Kong with his younger brother Andrew.

Once in New Zealand he was meant to fly from Auckland to New Plymouth, but mistakenly boarded the Air New Zealand flight to Tauranga.

"I was supposed to go to gate 47, but I went to 46," Roger said.

"I went to Tauranga. I didn't have any clue what to do when I got there and I didn't know where my brother was."

His brother Andrew was still at the Auckland Airport, after dashing off the New Plymouth bound plane when he noticed his brother was missing.

"I didn't know where he was," Andrew said.

"He was missing and I was shocked when I heard he was in Tauranga."

Although both boys now find the experience mildly amusing, it was no laughing matter at the time.

Roger, who is spending his third year in New Zealand, said he did not know how he was allowed to gain access to the wrong flight, but the Air New Zealand staff were extremely friendly afterwards.

"After I went to the wrong place, they helped me a lot. They paid for me to stay there, and for the ticket back to Auckland and from Auckland back to New Plymouth as well."

Andrew, who wants to be a pilot, wasn't quite so lucky.

"Air New Zealand told me I had to pay for my own new ticket to New Plymouth because I hopped off the plane by myself.

"But then, eventually, they paid for me."

The brother's New Zealand guardian Patricia Rowe said the boys' family was distraught when they heard Roger had gone missing and upset to hear Andrew had been left at the airport alone.

"They were so relieved when Roger turned up in Tauranga," she said.

"And when Andrew was safe. They are two lovely young men and Andrew wanted to make sure his brother was OK.

"But we still don't know how Roger managed to get on the wrong plane."

On Monday a spokesperson for Air New Zealand said it was unlikely anyone would be available to respond to questions about the incident until Tuesday.

NEW ZEALAND: Kiwi Regional Airlines Starts Selling Regional Airfares

Kiwi Regional Airlines has started selling tickets for services between four centres despite being uncertified.

The airline has also released photos of its 34-seat SAAB 340A aircraft before it undergoes a paint job.

Hamilton city councillor and Kiwi Regional Airlines (KRA) chief executive Ewan Wilson said from October 27, subject to regulatory approval, KRA would begin servicing Dunedin, Queenstown, Nelson and Hamilton.

Fares went on sale on Wednesday for services between Hamilton and Nelson, Nelson and Dunedin, and Queenstown and Dunedin.

Dunedin to Queenstown fares started at $99, Hamilton to Nelson fares started at $139 and Dunedin to Nelson fares started at $149.

"Fares on Kiwi flights will be completely transparent, with no unexpected add-ons," Wilson said.

There would be no taxes, credit card charges or other fees added automatically when customers booked online, he said.

"What you see on your computer or phone screen will be what you are charged."

KRA would not increase fares closer to flight dates, he said.

Wilson, who founded the failed no-frills trans-Tasman Kiwi International Airlines in 1994, has previously said KRA would not fly on existing direct Air New Zealand routes.

The airline has previously indicated it wants to service Tauranga, Blenheim and Palmerston North and Auckland's North Shore using Whenuapai airbase.

But for that Wilson would need approval from Royal New Zealand Air Force approval and other consents.