Consultation lack: Air NZ

Press, 2 July 1986, Page 39

Consultation lack: Air NZ

PA Wellington Air New Zealand said it was concerned that Commerce Commission advisers did not consult the company before the Commission gave clearance for Ansett to form a joint venture domestic airline. “In view of the ramifications of this decision for Air New Zealand, and ultimately the public, it seems extraordinary that we were not given the opportunity to put our views forward,” said Air New Zealand’s managing director, Mr Norman Geary. "It runs against a wellestablished pattern of consultation with affected parties. "There are obviously questions which arise which should have been canvassed with Air New Zealand.” Mr Geary said the Commission, in a radio programme, had indicated

that it had sufficient information before it “We do not agree, as the earlier case involving Air New Zealand, Newmans and Mount Cook, did not canvas main trunk competition, or main trunk competition with strong foreign backing,” he said. "It focused on the country’s tourist air routes that Newmans and Mount Cook operate over. "Ansett have recently entered into a very close commercial relationship with Qantas, including preferential business arrangements. Ansett, through its own — and its wider — commercial interests is deeply involved in travel retailing and all aspects of transportation, which could influence the Commission. "Were the implications of these taken into account? We don’t know whether they were recognised. "They certainly would have been had we been consulted.” Mr Geary said Air New Zealand was currently, with its lawyers, examining what rights of objection it might have.