Watch: Workers scramble after Northland jet fuel leak hits flights at Auckland Airport

Monday, 18 September 2017

Refining NZ is urgently trying to fix a jet fuel line in rural Northland that has almost grounded the country's aviation network.

Dozens of Auckland Airport flights have been affected after a digger hit a pipeline in Northland's Ruakaka.

The 168 kilometre pipeline – which carries jet fuel, petrol and diesel directly from the oil refinery at Marsden Point in Northland to tanks in Wiri, south Auckland – has been out of action since Thursday afternoon, when refinery workers noticed a drop in pressure.

It was later discovered the pipe had been 'cut' and scraped', Refining NZ spokesman Greg McNeill said.

The pipeline which connects Marsden Point Oil Refinery and Auckland Airport was breached on a farm near Ruakaka.

That has led to jet fuel shortages throughout Auckland, with flights cancelled, rescheduled, or rerouted through Christchurch to fill up.

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The damage to the jet fuel line has put enormous strain on the country's aviation network.

The site is about 8km south of Marsden Point Oil Refinery and close to Ruakaka.

Refining NZ has said it will reprocess any jet fuel it can recover at Marsden Point Oil Refinery.

The pipeline is believed to have been damaged some time ago and has since corroded.

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Refining NZ, which owns the pipeline, has estimated the incident will cost the company $10-$15 million in lost revenue.