That's pretty grim. I wonder if there is a case for NZ to have separate Business/Elite lounges at at least AKL, SYD and MEL. Had I paid to go BP MEL-AKL-USA, and not been able to sit I wouldn't think highly of the product. Yes, NZ ditched first class long ago, but if you are a high-value customer flying TT and beyond, the simple point is that QF does offer (SYD and MEL) its first class lounges which are a leap above anything NZ has. Of course at AKL QF's lounges are subpar, but once they are replaced with a HKG/SIN style one, it will make a difference.

I'm in the new lounge now, and it is pleasant, very similar to SYD and AKL, although being late morning there is only one flight to AKL until the afternoon. However, I find the AKL lounge almost always a bit of a zoo, seats can be found, but it is noisy and busy (and I have yet to do an evening flight to the States from there).

It's a shame, because a lot of thought has gone into them, but is simply a combination of growth of demand and growth of people with status/KC membership just overwhelmed forecasts?