12 October 2018

The flight south from Auckland was delayed by 45 minutes. Then delayed another hour. I was on to my third or fourth set of Koru Speed Dating table mates by the time I left.

The flight was uneventful until the descent began. Then the pilot informed us that conditions in Queenstown were at the limits for a landing and that conditions had gotten worse. A diversion was a real possibility and if we did divert it would be back to Auckland. Cue en mass groan.

The landing was a high slow one. I actually thought we'd have a missed approach due to the height on approach but the winds were such that wheels were down well before the go-around marks on the runway and we were able to exit the runway at the first taxiway rather than use the entire runway and track back. Cue en mass applause.

Exited onto the tarmac in my t-shirt to 3C and a stiff southerly. Brr.

Waited for the ride back to the park and ride to get the car that had been left there by Southern Motor Group who had completed the airbag recall on Monday. Southern Motors rang me on Monday to say that the car was there.

Got to the park and ride in the dark. Couldn't find the car. Walked everywhere towing my bag and clicking the key hoping to see the lights flash. No car. Left my bag sitting in the bus stop and explored again more thoroughly. No car.

Rang Southern Motors. No answer. Rang their after hours number. No answer.

Managed to get a lift back over to the airport and did the same tour of all the airport car parks. Towed my suitcase behind me. No car.

So I went and saw the boy and girl in blue at the airport police kiosk and explained the issue. That's odd - we don't actually get many stolen cars here at all - but let's go for a drive said Mark. Off we went in the police car rechecking all the car parks, the Southern Motors dealership, the park and ride. No car.

The car is not yet reported stolen. I will ring Southern Motors on Saturday and ask them to please explain. If they can't then I have a stolen car.

So how did I get home?

Honestly the police are wonderful. They gave me a ride.

13 October 2018

10:00am - rang Southern Motor Group and asked the obvious questions. They would look into it straight away.

10:10am - they rang me back. They had dropped it where they were supposed to at the airport permanent parking area behind the go-karts? Where I asked? It is supposed to be at the park and ride. No no - it is where we said at the go-karts. I asked them to check and they said they would, take a photo and send it back to me.

11:00am - I rang them. Have you found my car? Sorry I've been too busy to leave the dealership. I haven't looked yet - this guy was a salesman and didn't know much about service. So I pestered him and demanded that the service manager ring me back in 10 minutes. I was told he would.

11:05am - I decide to walk to the hitchhiking pick up point and get a ride over and sort this out in person.

11:16am - the service manager rings. He is very apologetic and says that he lives in Cromwell and will be driving over at 1pm and will look into everything. I tell him that I am about to start hitchhiking. He suggests that he drive via Wanaka and pick me up. I agree and say I will have a coffee in town (I'm nearly there) and will meet him as soon as he gets to town.

11:43am - the service manager rings - he is just leaving Cromwell.

12:15pm - the service manager picks me up and off we drive. He's only been in this job for 7-8 weeks and has come out from the UK. He can't believe how useless the company is. He's trying to change things but it is not working. They are not doing the things they told him they would when he was appointed. He's very disappointed with them and will be leaving to find another job. I've never been a car service manager's agony aunt before but I suppose there is a first time for everything. It was his first time driving over the Crown Range too.

1:30pm - Queenstown. I show him where the park and ride is - with it's nice big orange signs, paved parking, lighting, bus shelter etc. He is impressed. Then we drive to the back of the go-karts and find the parking place. It is not associated with the airport and is just someone leasing a bit of land. It is a large area - just grass and mud. It takes a while of driving around all the cars before the One is found. Amazingly there is no ticket or clamp on it - so I decide to just drive away. I do discuss compensation with the service manager and he will ask the general manager. I really don't expect much. (Several months later Subaru NZ sent me $150 of petrol vouchers. Southern Motors didn't want to admit any sort of fault.)

2:15pm - Airport - go and see the police from the night before who are on duty and thank them very much. Then drive home. No more dramas. Until next time.

Green Dot: Where it should have been. Red Dot: Where it actually was.