Air New Zealand Air Points - Partner Award Levels Increase

I just happened to hop over to the Air NZ website, and noticed that the Star Alliance and Partner award levels increased as of 1 October 05. Was this change communicated to the members in a manner other than the website?

I don't check the website all that frequently, and I haven't seen any emails come in regarding the increases (My account preferences state that I'd prefer all mailings to be electronic).

If I had known, I would have burned the last of my points before the cutoff date, which was just 3 days ago.

The change notice first appeared on Air NZ Australian website and about a month later appeared on the NZ site in the news section. It states that some of the partner award rate will increase but it turned out that all rates are increased. The September newsletter has also mentioned the change and there are other people in this forum who have recieved the newsletter in the email. I didn't get the email because my preference is for it to be sent in the post, but I didn't get the hard copy either. I rang them and was told that they didn't send the printed edition at all although a PDF file can be downloaded. In some ways people at Air NZ are just a bunch of liars.

How long ago did it appear on the Aussie site? I'm really angry at this point, since I have in my bank exactly A$2700. That would have given me 1 more RT in F to Europe, Asia, or South America from N.A. Now, I have to figure out a way to top up the account some A$430 to get the same benefit.

I wonder if it's worth a call to Airpoints, and ask them if I made a booking today would they honor the old levels. I really don't feel as though this change was properly communicated at all. :mad:

I have also noticed that NZ struggle to send their communications on time - I never recieved anything about the changes and my copy of the Gold Airpoints Koru Review turned up over a month late last time.

Has anyone noticed the new cruise partner? NZ even didn't say anything about joining partner.