Air New Zealand ramping up Australia, Pacific Islands flights as new Airbus planes arrive

Air New Zealand says it will add 130,000 seats on flights to Australia, Rarotonga, Fiji and Tahiti this summer.
Two new Airbus A320s and more customer demand for destinations including Adelaide have been cited as driving the expansion.
“That’s been enabled through two new 320Qs, or narrow-body aircraft, being delivered,” said Lucy Hall, the airline’s short-haul general manager.
“They’re 214-seat, narrow-body aircraft. One of them has already arrived and one is on its way, so we’ll be introducing that in the next couple of weeks into our network.”
The airline will this summer also deploy more wide-body aircraft on key routes.
Air New Zealand said the summer expansion would cement its position as the biggest transtasman carrier, ahead of rival Qantas.
The airline will add 8% more premium seats on its short-haul network and have up to 42 flights each week on widebody jets to Australia.
“We’re seeing really strong demand, particularly for Australia,” Hall added.
Perth was an increasingly popular destination for people flying from Auckland, she said.
Australia’s 2021 Census found at least 59,000 New Zealand-born people lived in the city, with three-quarters of them in the workforce.
Hall said Air New Zealand was growing its Auckland-Perth services from one a day to nine a week.
The airline said it would also add 30,000 seats on its Auckland-Perth route.
Hall told the Herald that Adelaide’s food culture and its Fringe Festival, set for February 20 to March 22 next year, were luring Kiwi travellers.
Christchurch–Adelaide is a new transtasman route, starting on October 27.
“We saw previously that a lot of those customers are travelling over the east coast of Australia, so this is just making it easier to get to Adelaide,” Hall said.
She said the airline tracked demand for the big eastern seaboard cities and reached the point where it felt demand was great enough to make that direct service to Adelaide viable.
Rival Qantas last month announced plans for new direct Auckland-Adelaide flights, starting on October 31.
But Air New Zealand said 1.7 million seats would be available on its transtasman flights between October this year and next March.
An average of up to six Air New Zealand wide-body jet flights a day would go to Australia.
The airline also planned an uplift in premium seating to meet what it called strong demand from both business and leisure travellers.
The Auckland-Sydney route would have an extra 25,000 seats, 30% of them premium, and up to 13 services a week.
The Auckland-Brisbane flight would get an extra 18,400 seats over summer.
“There’ll be extra seats over that busy Christmas period, but also in the shoulder periods leading in[to] and following Christmas,” Hall said.
The Auckland-Melbourne route would have up to 16,000 extra seats over summer, and also up to 13 wide-body services a week.
From Auckland to the Gold Coast, another 8500 seats would be added.
Air New Zealand said 25,000 extra seats would also be available on Pacific Islands flights this summer.
The Auckland-Rarotonga route would get 8000 more seats.
On the Fiji route, the Auckland-Nadi service would get 8600 more seats.
The airline said it would add 1600 seats to its Tahiti service, with a 37% increase in premium seating.
Hall said Boeing 787 Dreamliners or 777s serviced the Tahiti route.
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The Reserve Bank has shared some pretty blunt advice: there’s no such thing as a “safe” job anymore 🛟😑

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5 hours ago

Assistant Manager - Restaurant

Kiran Reddy from Mount Eden

Date posted: February 20, 2026

Pay: NZ$25.00 - NZ$30.00 per hour

Job description:

Date posted: February 20, 2026

Pay: $25.00 per hour

Job description:

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Assistant Restaurant Managers to help lead operations at our popular Indian restaurant located in the vibrant heart of Milford, Auckland. These full-time, permanent position is ideal for hospitality professionals who thrive in fast-paced environments and take pride in delivering outstanding dining experiences.

About the Role

As an Assistant Restaurant Manager, you will play a pivotal role in supporting the Restaurant Manager in the smooth day-to-day running of the business. You’ll assist in maintaining high standards of food quality, customer service, and operational efficiency while mentoring a diverse and energetic team. You will also contribute to building a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the warmth and authenticity of Indian hospitality.

Key Responsibilities

Support the Restaurant Manager and business owner in planning, coordinating, and monitoring daily restaurant operations to ensure consistent quality and efficiency.
Collaborate with Chefs to plan seasonal and promotional menus, ensuring dishes remain true to traditional Indian flavours while appealing to a broad customer base.
Supervise and actively participate in front-of-house operations, including guest greetings, reservations, service flow, and complaint resolution.
Oversee stock management, cost control, and supplier relationships, ensure accurate ordering, inventory tracking, and waste minimisation within budgetary parameters.
Organise and coordinate special events, functions, and catering services in collaboration with the Restaurant Manager.
Maintain compliance with health, safety, and hygiene standards in accordance with New Zealand food regulations.
Recruit, train, roster, and coach staff members to foster a motivated and customer-focused team culture.
Review customer feedback and identify opportunities for service improvement.
Assist with administrative duties such as cash handling, daily reconciliation, and performance reporting.
Monitor Delivery App side of business, co-ordinate with the service providers to increase the sale.
Skills and Requirements

Minimum 4 year of relevant management or supervisory experience in a busy hospitality environment, or a relevant qualification in Hospitality Management or a related field.
Availability to work 30 – 35 hours per week on a 7-day roster, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays as required.
Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to motivate and guide staff in a team-oriented environment.
Excellent organisational and problem-solving abilities, capable of staying calm under pressure.
Solid understanding of food cost management, stock control, and basic financial reporting.
Genuine passion for Indian cuisine and hospitality, with an eye for detail and customer satisfaction.
A proactive, hands-on attitude and willingness to assist in all areas of service when required.
What We Offer

Competitive pay based on experience and performance.
A friendly, multicultural work environment with opportunities for career development and advancement.
The chance to contribute to restaurant's improvement with loyal customer followings and strong community ties.
Eligibility:
Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens, Permanent Residents, or credentials to seek work visa in New Zealand.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Benefits:

Free food
Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person