In my situation NZ announced the direct flight route is suspended until 30 May. ExpertFlyer shows the return flight in the system, but zeroed our in all classes. It isn’t bookable.
So suspended flights rather than cancellation seems to feature in NZ’s calculus.
My specific situation for those interested...
Flights were 22 May out indirect WLG-AKL-BNE, with direct return BNE-WLG on 24 May. Dummy bookings on NZ’s website for direct and indirect flights using their multicity tool yielded no possibilities for the return between city pairs, direct or indirect.
WhatsApp exchanges resulted in statements by NZ that they would be able to provide the return service despite my contrary information. I cannot prove them wrong at this stage, so could only wait wait to late May to see if the return was indeed possible, or cancel myself.
The total fare was $373, and so I elected to cancel and have the $200 taxes refunded (received within 24 hours). I accept the remaining $173 is ‘lost’ at this stage.