T.E.A.L. May Fly To U.S. By Using Rarotonga

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30348, 25 January 1964, Page 14

T.E.A.L. May Fly To U.S. By Using Rarotonga

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, January 24. New Zealand may yet overcome the difficulties imposed by France’s refusal to allow Tasman Empire Airways to use Tahiti, and T.E.A.L. may fly the Southern Pacific route to Los Angeles by using airstrips in New Zealand’s own territories in the Cook Islands.

A proposal to extend the Rarotonga airport to Electra standards and, ultimately, to international jet standards is under study by the Government. Large four-engined aircraft have already used Rarotonga—and a fine alternate airstrip, built for Liberator bombers during the war, is on Aitutaki, only 140 miles away.

A Cook Islands airport of jet standard would obviate the need to negotiate a new air traffic rights agreement with France for the use of Tahiti, which would probably mean the surrender of some trans-Tasman rights to France in exchange. It could also be the beginning of a major tourist industry in the Cook Islands, centered about the beautiful and mountainous Rarotonga. Preliminary studies have shown that the scheme is a physical possibility. The flight from Mangere to Rarotonga is about 1700 miles—shorter than the trip to Tahiti, but roughly on the same line. From there it would be simple enough to overfly Tahiti, though this might entail some reduction in the load capacity of the DCB airliners T.E.A.L. would be using. If T.E.A.L. uses the Cook Islands major changes will be needed in the policies of both the External Affairs and the Island Territories departments. The existing New Zealand policy towards the Cook Islands has been described as “highly protective and parental,” and access to them has not always been easy for the would-be visitor.

A difficulty facing those who favour airport extensions are the Maori land laws which tie up every inch of Rarotonga in a complicated system of ownership. Even

the residency is on Maori land. But advocates of the airport project say the citrus replanting scheme, which has developed the Rarotonga orange trade, has succeeded in spite of the Maori laws. The existing airstrip at Rarotonga is now being extended from 5000 ft to 6000 ft. According to the Civil Aviation Administration, the extended runway would have to be sealed to take Electras. This would cost £400,000.

i To accommodate the DCB« ■ which T.E.A.L. will have in i 1965, the strip ■would need to > be extended to 8000 ft i This scheme, which is not I much more than an idea at present, will be studied in March, when a party of six M.P.’s, three from each party. . makes a four-weeks’ tour of ■ New Zealand's Pacific islands. The Minister of Island Ter- > ritories (Mr Hanan) will . probably accompany the group.