re MEL base
And5678,
the difference between PER and MEL is the 744 flying, which will continue out of MEL at least till the A380 arrives.
Whether the base stays depends on who will do the 744 flying, eg Aust base or AKL.
All the talk I've heard is the A380's first route will be MEL-LAX-MEL, so that could imply that the base will be needed in the future.
Maybe the dedicated crew that are chosen for the A380 will be required to move to MEL initially?