Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Flavell Te Ururoa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:640;Page:10771] 
11.  
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
 to the  
Minister for Transport Safety 
: He kaha tana whakapono ki te Mana Tohu Rererangi o Aotearoa otira ki tana ake mahi whakamana topito wahi pareora o nga taunga rererangi? 
Translation: 
 Does he have confidence in the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand in particular in its work relating to the certification of runway end safety areas? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) 
: 
 Yes. I am very happy with its work in that area particularly in the development of the runway end safety area rule. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: He aha te Mana Tohu Rererangi o Aotearoa ki te whakaaro o te Ropu Whakahaere a-Rererangi o Rotorua kia tau aua waka rererangi nui nei e haere nei i te ao pena i tera Airbus 320 i tutuki i Brazil ina tata nei na 190 te hunga i mate engari he poto iho te papa rererangi i Rotorua a kua tata eke te wahi here kei nga pito ki te 90 mita e tika ana? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
[What action can the Civil Aviation Authority take over Rotorua Regional Airport’s proposal to operate the same type of aircraft on international services as that used in the recent Airbus 320 crash that killed more than 190 people in Brazil but with an even shorter runway and a marginally compliant 90 metre runway end safety area? 
] 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: First at present Rotorua airport is not an international airport. Therefore I think that the Airbus A320s which are mostly used by New Zealand airlines in an international role are unlikely to fly there. However in respect of the runway length at Rotorua there is at present a proposal by the airport authority to have it extended. If such a proposal was brought to the Civil Aviation Authority it would obviously consider it. Secondly if the airport runway was to be extended by more than 15 metres runway end safety areas would be required. That is the trigger point at which runway end safety areas are required. Thirdly if the airport became an international airport then obviously the runway end safety areas would have to be added. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: What is the Civil Aviation Authority’s role in terms of runway end safety areas? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: As I said before under the existing rule Rotorua Airport is not actually required to have a runway end safety area within the existing runway length and I am very proud to say I did sign off on the rule after many years of nothing having been done. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. Members in this House constantly ask Ministers to address questions fully. We have a Minister who is attempting to do that. The least we can do is to listen to him. 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: Thank you Madam Speaker. If the airport were to become an international airport or if it should decide to increase its declared runway distance by more than 15 metres it would be required to introduce a runway end safety area and at that point the Civil Aviation Authority would have a role in respect of monitoring the airport’s compliance with the runway end safety area rule. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: He aha i aro kore ai ia ki te tutohutanga mai i te Ropu Whakakotahitanga o nga Kairere o te Ao e mea ana kia whakaheke i nga raru hauora me whai nga taunga waka rererangi katoa e whakamahi nei i nga waka rererangi i nga tikanga here nei ara kia kore e poto iho i te 240 mita te roa o te wahi here kei nga pito ki te kore me whakarite i tetahi taputapu whakatu i te rere o te waka rererangi? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
Why has he ignored the recommendation from the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations that in order to reduce safety risks all airports that airlines operate at should have a minimum runway end safety area of 240 metres or an engineered materials arrester system? 
] 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I certainly have not ignored the issue at all. That is one of the reasons why the runway end safety area rule was put in place—and I am very pleased with that. The argument is over the trigger point at which an airport has to install a runway end safety area. It was decided that when airport runways are extended or indeed when an airport becomes an international airport then the extensions would have to include a runway end safety area. 
Te Ururoa Flavell 
: E whakapono ana ia ka whai hua tana whakaaetanga ki te whakaaro o te Ropu Whakahaere a Rererangi o Rotorua ka whakakaha ake nga raru hauora ki te hunga haere me nga kairere ka mutu mo taua hunga e noho mai ra i raro tonu i nga waka rererangi tae atu ki te hunga noho nei kei nga pito o te taunga waka rererangi ara ko te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata tera ko te tupuna whare o Uenukukopako tera ko te marae o Ruamata tera ko te whanau o Cookson tera? Ki te kore he aha tana hei whakatika i te take nei? 
[An interpretation in English was given to the House.] 
Does he believe that approving the Rotorua Regional Airport’s plan will provide the maximum level of safety possible for passengers and crew and those immediately within the possible undershoot and overrun areas including children at Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata Uenukukopako Wharenui Ruamata Marae and the Cookson whanau who live at the northern end of the runway; if not why not? 
] 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The airport company is proposing a northern runway extension of 150 metres to allow for larger aircraft and international flights. That is clearly a business decision by the airport’s owners. If it does go ahead they will have to incorporate a runway end safety area which will at least address the issues of overrun raised by the member. That will be in conformity with Civil Aviation Rule Part 139 and the physical standards for runway design and runway end safety area design will obviously have to be met. The Civil Aviation Authority will ensure that is the case; that is the role of the Civil Aviation Authority. But the commercial decision as to whether to extend the runway is properly within the purview of the airport authority and of course local ratepayers will have plenty to say about that issue.