The disruption to flights from Auckland Airport because a fuel pipeline was damaged is another illustration of the vulnerability of transport links in this country. It appears that, while the cost of disruption is high, it was thought the chances of that happening were low. Flight disruption through weather or some international supply problem might be forgiven. The state highway between Christchurch and Dunedin was cut in another demonstration of the vulnerability of transport links. All these incidents, coming on top of the Christchurch earthquakes, should reinforce the dangers of excessive centralisation and lack of planning.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 18, 2017 17:15 UTC