The in-app message about new program start date has moved from April 2026 to "early 2026" so who knows when it will actually go live. I admit I have changed some of my spending habits because of the lack of clarity they have provided and picked non-Air NZ routes for a lot of my international travel this quarter. If they had just come out and said it will be a rolling 12-month process from the date you qualified (for me it was at announcement) then I probably would have kept racking up status points to get a headstart on keeping Black.
I was told it resets. Like you I was hoping atleast my travel This quarter would count towards black requalifying, but CSR said otherwise. Said the fact I had hit Black and got the extra RUs was the thanks for your loyalty.
We are a week away from March and still no details.