Brown Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brown Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:622;Page:17223] 
10.  
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister for Transport Safety 
: Does he have any concerns that Heli Logging Ltd is being prohibited by the Civil Aviation Authority from using its ex-military Westland Wessex helicopters for the commercial purposes for which they were purchased; if so what is he going to do about this? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN (Minister for Transport Safety) 
: 
 I am advised by the Civil Aviation Authority that the director is considering the safety record of Wessex helicopters conducting commercial operations before making any decision on the Heli Logging Ltd petition for exemption from the Civil Aviation Rules. As the member will no doubt be aware by law I am prevented from interfering in the director’s decision making. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that Heli Logging has undertaken all that has been asked of it by the authority and that no reason has been forthcoming in recent times for the authority’s prohibiting the helicopters from flying; if he is aware of that can he not do something to give this organisation a fairer go? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am aware that a number of activities have been undertaken by Heli Logging Ltd to verify the performance of the helicopters. I am also aware of previous accidents involving Wessex helicopters conducting logging operations. In February 2001 a Wessex helicopter that was lifting logs in a forest near Motueka crashed killing its pilot. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that this issue has been ongoing for something like 2 years and that these people are entitled to a definitive answer; if so will he lobby hard to ensure the authority complies with that request? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am aware that the company proposed this activity 2 years ago. I am also aware that in or around August it filed for exemption from the Civil Aviation Rules—August of this year just 3 months ago—and that the director is in the process of making a decision. I cannot lobby the director to make a decision either way. I would hope that decision was forthcoming. 
Peter Brown 
: Does the Minister recall that some months back the Director of Civil Aviation allowed one of his inspectors to ground an airline and then to receive payment for producing the manuals necessary to get that airline up and running and that that was put down to naivety; if he does recall that can he assure this House that no payment is being made to anybody to keep the helicopters grounded? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: The last matter is an aspect that I have not considered but I can give the member an assurance that if that is the case it is called corruption and it will be dealt with extremely harshly and extremely rapidly. What I can tell the member is that the director has been considering all the information put before him and I have urged him to make his decision as soon as he feels comfortable in doing so. I am sure that he will. 
Peter Brown 
: Is the Minister aware that the company is now taking legal action against the authority as I understand it and does he think it is prudent that a judge should rule on whether this helicopter company flies or should it be the authority or indeed the Minister—does he think they have got that right? 
Hon HARRY DUYNHOVEN 
: I am aware that just last Friday a legal injunction was served against the Civil Aviation Authority to bring this matter to a head. I do not think that a judge is necessarily the most appropriate person to rule; that is why we have a Civil Aviation Authority with the expertise that it has and with the ability to call in outside experts if necessary to help make these decisions. But as I am sure the member is equally aware section 72I(4) of the Civil Aviation Act 1990 requires the director to exercise his discretion in the case independently of the authority itself and the Minister. Therefore I am not in a position to interfere with the director’s decision making. As I have said before I have urged the director to make his decision as soon as possible.