A global IT outage, described as “the largest in history,” disrupted banking, flights, and retail operations across New Zealand.
The issue, caused by an update from cyber security firm CrowdStrike, affected services including Auckland Transport, St John, Supermarkets, Banks, Airports and retail. Acting Prime Minister David Seymour confirmed that the outage was not malicious but warned that it could take days for systems to fully recover.
Despite the disruption, supermarkets confirmed that shoppers could still do their grocery shopping. However, some self-service kiosks at Woolworths were still down, showing the “blue screen of death.”
Retail NZ reported that most retail and payment systems were back up but advised consumers to be prepared for possible further outages and to use cash or Eftpos where possible.
The outage, linked to a “content update” by CrowdStrike, impacted software on Windows computers, while Mac and Linux networks remained unaffected. This update was automatically sent globally, causing significant disruptions for many businesses.
Air travel was also affected, with early morning Jetstar flights out of Auckland canceled. Auckland Airport advised travellers to allow extra time due to the disruption affecting some airlines and payment systems. Fortunately, flights from Air NZ, Qantas, and Singapore Airlines departed successfully.
Hospitals reported no major issues with their IT systems, ensuring patient care continued as usual. Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora confirmed that any minor problems were quickly resolved.
Online shoppers may experience delays as retailers wait for payment confirmations. The situation underscores the reliance on technology and the cloud for daily activities.
While New Zealand experienced significant disruptions, Acting Prime Minister David Seymour noted that the country fared better than others. Most government services remained unaffected, and the banking sector was expected to return to normal operations quickly.
