Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:673;Page:19376] 
9. 
DAVID SHEARER (Labour—Mt Albert) 
 to the  
Minister of Defence 
: Does he still agree with all of the statements made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on that Minister’s use of RNZAF aircraft to travel to Vanuatu in February of this year? 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP (Minister of Defence) 
: 
 Yes. 
David Shearer 
: Does he still agree with Mr McCully’s statement on the morning of 4 May that the Boeing 757 that had taken him to Vanuatu had broken down requiring the air force to send an Orion to pick him up; if so how does he explain his reply to written question 3353 that it did not break down? 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: There is dancing on the head of pin here I think. One of the 757s had in fact broken down which necessitated the 757’s return to New Zealand to enable—there were two of them you see—the other one to continue its training mission to Antarctica. 
David Shearer 
: Did he know before Mr McCully departed for Vanuatu on the 757 on 13 February that the plane taking him there would need to return to New Zealand on the same day because of the unscheduled maintenance needed on the second 757 which was scheduled to travel to Antarctica; if so on what date did he learn that the other plane would have been sent to pick up Mr McCully from Vanuatu? 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: As the questioner said the maintenance was unscheduled; thus I did not know that at the time. 
David Shearer 
: Did the aircraft carrying Mr McCully to Vanuatu travel via Samoa or any other Pacific nation to pick up other passengers as was suggested by Mr McCully? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I apologise to the member. I ask David Shearer to repeat his question. I say to the National backbenches that I want to be able to hear these questions. 
David Shearer 
: Did the aircraft carrying Mr McCully to Vanuatu travel via Samoa or any other Pacific nation to pick up other passengers as was claimed by Mr McCully? 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: It is my understanding that the Samoan delegation was taken to Vanuatu. I understood that to be from New Zealand. I also say that the member was misinformed when he said that people were left behind in Vanuatu. That was not the case. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a very carefully drafted and carefully worded question as to whether the plane went via Samoa. That question was not addressed. The member did say that Samoans were taken on it. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will notice that I was on my feet for quite a while. I hear what the member said by way of point of order but I think the Minister has answered that Samoans were taken on the flight. That does leave the question where they were picked up from I accept that but there are further supplementary questions that could be used to clarify that situation. I think it would be wrong of me to assume in any way anything from the Minister’s answer. The Minister appeared to answer the question because he confirmed that in his understanding Samoans were taken on the flight. There are further supplementary questions to dig further into that. That is where I think the Speaker should leave it. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Were the Samoans who were taken on the flight picked up in Samoa? 
Hon Dr WAYNE MAPP 
: I understand they were picked up from Auckland but frankly I simply cannot understand why the Opposition— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No no it is not in order to make that kind of comment. A fair question was asked and it was answered. I thank the Minister.