I'm asking this question here instead of through the XNet help desk since it is not really a fault or an issue (yet) and and feedback might be of interest to others.  I trust sooner or later one of the XNet staff will reply.

The XNet network status page says there was a broadband outage this afternoon before 3:00 in Wellington and the South Island.  At about 3:25 this afternoon I had an outage/glitch in Auckland.  Is it related?  Just started up my PC, checked e-mail, and then everything went down.  The modem did not loose sync and it said the connection is there (or I was too late to see it), but no internet or VFX.  It came right by itself within a couple of minutes, but I did briefly unplug the phone line and plugged it in again, not long enough to force a resync though.  (Must be Westpack...)