Originally Posted by taupo

As someone with a strong and well honed investigative background, nothing in what you suggest passes any test of reasonability.

Book a flight through a “weird” OTA.
Airfare rules determine eligibility of flight changes, cancellation, but you have to do it through OTA.
Why book through “weird” OTA in first place, why use OTA, let alone a “weird “ one, at all for a simple cross Tasman jaunt?
Why buy an item and have it delivered to an airside pickup place? Why not have it delivered to your home and pay the taxes?
Or why not buy it from your airside place having read and accepted the airlines rules as well as those of the NZ Govt?
Close a bank account? How often does anyone close a bank account, seems like an odd coincidence with regard to the timing.
Why not buy with a credit card and all the associated insurances?
Why not travel on the flight you consciously booked when you consciously bought your item knowing darn well you needed a boarding pass to collect it?

Can you hear the snap of a rubber glove?