Motions — Fox Glacier—Light Aircraft Crash 
Motions — Fox Glacier—Light Aircraft Crash 
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Motions 
Fox Glacier—Light Aircraft Crash 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister of Transport) 
: 
 I seek leave to move without notice a motion relating to the Fox Glacier aviation tragedy. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Is there any objection to that course being followed? There is none. 
Hon STEVEN JOYCE 
: I move  
That this House note the tragic loss of nine lives on Saturday in the air accident at Fox Glacier and express its sympathy and condolences to the victims’ friends and families in New Zealand Ireland Australia Germany and England 
. On Saturday afternoon as the day unfolded in Canterbury and the full magnitude of that truly traumatic event began to become apparent on the other side of the South Island the sun was shining on a beautiful late winter’s day and nine people set off from a small airstrip at Fox Glacier with four visitors to this country about to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful part of our scenery via the unique experience of a tandem skydive. Tragically our visitors and their hosts never got to enjoy that experience. Their plane crashed almost immediately after take-off and a fire ensued. No one on board stood a chance. 
So as the nation experienced the great relief of thousands of lives having been spared from a natural disaster we also felt the great sorrow of nine lives lost in a terrible tragedy. They were Chaminda Senadhira of Queenstown Adam Bennett of Motueka Michael Suter of New Plymouth Christopher McDonald of Mapua Rodney Miller of Greymouth Patrick Byrne of Ireland Glenn Bourke of Australia Annita Kirsten of Germany and Brad Coker of England. The loss of each of them is not just untimely but unfair. For those who knew these people this sorrow and loss will linger for a very very long time to come. Our thoughts are with the many people who have been affected by this very tragic event. 
I wish to express my heartfelt condolences and those of the Government to the families friends and colleagues of the five New Zealanders who died and to those in Australia England Ireland and Germany who have lost a loved one. New Zealand’s aviation and skydiving industries are tight-knit communities and I know that they are feeling devastated by what has happened. Tributes to the victims have flowed in from aeroclubs and skydiving operators around the country. All have spoken of their respect for their lost colleagues and of the great love that those who died had for their jobs. As one person said “There wasn’t anything else they wanted to do.” I also wish to acknowledge the tributes to the victims from overseas. Their friends and family talk of people with a love of travel and adventure and of young people who lived life to the full. It is especially heartbreaking that their young lives were cut short so far from home. 
The township of Fox Glacier is a community in mourning. I understand that on Saturday night the township came together to remember their lost mates. At a local pub the victims’ favourite drinks were arranged on a pool table next to a sign that simply said “RIP boys”. Of course I did not personally know any of those who died but from what I have been told I am sure that that tribute would have meant the world to them. 
I spoke with Westland mayor Maureen Pugh this morning and she told me what a wonderful job the emergency services have done: how straight-up yet how compassionate they had been. She told me that just about every house in the village has a view of the airstrip and that many people witnessed the accident or its aftermath. She told me how proud she was of the way that the people of Fox Glacier stepped up despite their own shock at what had happened. It shows what a great little village Fox Glacier is that one of the first things that people have done there is to rally together to help provide comfort to the overseas families who are mourning a terrible loss including those who were travelling in a foreign country with their friends and partners and who were suddenly left on their own. 
We do not know yet what caused the plane to crash. That knowledge will come in time but right now it is a time for reflection commiseration and remembrance of those who have died. Thank you Mr Speaker. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour) 
: 
 I rise to support the motion. On behalf of the Labour Party I express our deepest sympathy for the families of the nine people who were so tragically taken from them on Saturday. 
Less than 12 hours after a massive earthquake on the east coast without any loss of life it seems almost incomprehensible that nine lives could be lost on the West Coast in the course of a normal tourism operation. On a spectacular South Westland day in one of the most inspiring environments in the world four enthusiastic young tourists to New Zealand were ready for an amazing adventure. This was the ninth flight of the day by a very experienced pilot in a plane built for the job and all four experienced jumpmasters had prepared as they had for literally thousands of jumps before this fateful occasion. No words can describe or compensate for this horrific tragedy as friends of the deceased waited and watched as this crash occurred right in front of them. To them we also offer our support in any way we can. 
I visited the site yesterday and I understand that my colleague Chris Auchinvole has been there as well. The people are stunned; the community is numb. 
I can relate to these people in a number of ways. I have jumped out of a plane with Rod Miller on three occasions and can attest to his professionalism and enthusiasm. With his partner John Kerr he built this company to be a key activity in West Coast tourism. Our sympathy goes to Rod’s wife Robyn and to their two sons. As a former adventure tourism operator I can attest to the experience and professionalism of the three other jumpmasters—Adam Bennett Michael Suter and Christopher McDonald—who have shared their passion for skydiving with tens of thousands of thrill-seekers. Although it has always been a high-risk activity their families and friends will be struggling to come to terms with their loss. They have our deepest sympathy. The very experienced pilot Chaminda Senadhira had a new family—a wife and a daughter—who will be in shock. We offer them our deepest sympathy and support. As a West Coaster I can say that those people were part of a small Fox Glacier community—a community that exists with nature with tourism and with the risks and rewards that depend upon the professionalism of adventurers such as those who were tragically killed on Saturday. 
We must offer also our special sympathy and support to the families of the four young tourists who lost their lives: Patrick Byrne from Ireland Glenn Bourke from Australia Annita Kirsten from Germany and Brad Coker from England. They came to New Zealand for a special holiday. They cannot return to their homes to tell of their experiences and adventures. We all have a responsibility to look after those who visit us in the true spirit of manaakitanga. We cannot explain at this stage why their lives were lost but we can give a commitment to do everything possible to prevent such terrible tragedies occurring in the future. No amount of speculation or guesswork will help. We must allow a proper investigation to conclude and act from there. 
We offer our deepest sympathy to the friends of those adventurous travellers and to the families of all those who were tragically killed. Our thoughts prayers and deepest sympathy go out to all of them. Kia kaha. 
Dr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 The Green Party joins with other parties in this House in extending our aroha our sympathy and love to the friends whanau and colleagues of the nine who were tragically killed at Fox Glacier a tight-knit town that has lost five of its own in one afternoon and is for ever joined in grief with four other families from around the world. With sudden and tragic loss of life it is often hard to comprehend; we struggle to make sense of these events when so many people with so much potential are suddenly lost. We send our thoughts out to the people of Fox Glacier and acknowledge the impact that this event will have had on them. To the families and loved ones of all four tourists who lost their lives we send our sincerest aroha and love. Kia kaha. Kia ora. 
Hon JOHN BOSCAWEN (Deputy Leader—ACT) 
: 
 I rise today on behalf of the ACT Party to express our heartfelt sorrow at the deaths of Rodney Miller Chaminda Senadhira Adam Bennett Michael Suter and Christopher McDonald; and the young tourists: Patrick Byrne from Ireland Glenn Bourke from Australia Annita Kirsten from Germany and Brad Coker from England—the nine people killed when their plane crashed at Fox Glacier in the South Island on Saturday afternoon. This is the worst aviation disaster that New Zealand has suffered in the last 17 years. The ACT Party joins all other members of this House in sending our deepest condolences to the families friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives on that afternoon. The death of a loved one—be it a father a mother a brother a sister a son a daughter a partner or a friend—in such particularly tragic circumstances is one of the most painful ordeals that one can experience. My heart and the hearts of my caucus colleagues go out to the victims’ loved ones in their time of grief. 
On behalf of the ACT Party I wish to also express our deepest sympathies to the two young girlfriends who witnessed their boyfriends perish in that disaster. Anyone who has seen the television coverage over the last 24 to 48 hours cannot help but be moved by the interview given by the sister of Glenn Bourke. She talked about her own experiences of skydiving in New Zealand and how she encouraged her younger brother to come and to follow in her footsteps. 
No words of mine can mitigate the pain and the sorrow that the friends and the loved ones of the nine victims must be feeling but I hope they can take even a little solace in the knowledge that the thoughts of every member of this House indeed of the entire nation are with them at this terrible time and that Parliament has seen fit to honour the lives of their loved ones with this special motion this afternoon. Thank you. 
TE URUROA FLAVELL (Maori Party—Waiariki) 
: 
 Kia ora ano tatou katoa e te Whare. E te parekura a-mate moe mai moe mai. I hara mai koutou na runga i te hiahia ki te titiro ki te matakitaki i nga pai painga o Aotearoa ngahere mai moana mai engari i tona mutunga mai kua katohia koutou e te ahuatanga o aitua. No reira haere moe mai moe mai moe mai ra i roto i nga ringaringa o te wahi ngaro. 
Ia tau ia tau ka hara mai nga turuhi ki Aotearoa nei ki konei matakitaki ai i te ataahua o to tatou whenua. Ko etahi ka hara mai ki nga wahi nei ki te Franz Josef ki te Fox he wahi whakahara whakaharahara o Aotearoa. Ka kite atu i te hukapapa ka kite atu i te ngahere ka miharo tonu atu. Engari no natatanei kua rongo ake i te ahuatanga o tenei hunga kua katohia e te ringa kaha o aitua. Engari he hitori tonu kua kitea i nga ra kua hipa ake mo tenei o nga momo ahuatanga. Ko te ingoa Maori mo tenei wahi Fox Glacier ko Te Moeka o Tuawe. Ko tenei tupuna a Tuawe i hinga a ka mate i a ia e torotoro haere nei i te whenua. Koinei i kia ai ko te moenga te moeka ranei o Tuawe. Ko tana whaiaipo tana wahine i tangi. Ko te ingoa o te wahine nei ko Hine Hukatere a i hinga i taka mai te roimata katahi ka puta ko te wahi nei ko te Franz Josef Glacier. I roto i te Ao Maori ko tona ingoa ko Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere. Tera mate tera. 
No nga 17 tau kua hipa ake kia mohio tatou tokoiwa ano ra i mate i tenei wahi. I whaiwhai haere ko te ahuatanga o Hine Hukatere. Tekau ma whitu tau kua hipa a i aitua wetahi i te Whiringa-a-nuku i te Oketopa ranei o te tau 1993. Tokorua nga kaitaraiwa o te waka rererangi tokowhitu te hunga i hara mai a-turuhi nei. Katoa i mate. Na no te Rahoroi kua hipa ake i pera rawa tenei hunga. I pera rawa i whaiwhai haere ko te ahuatanga ki a Tuawe. I whaiwhai haere ko te ahuatanga o te korero mo Hine Hukatere. I whaiwhai haere ko te ahuatanga o nga turuhi 17 tau kua hipa a no te Rahoroi i pera rawa wetahi. No reira kati ake. 
He korero ano ra kai reira. Kia tupato tatou mo te ahuatanga penei i te hunga o Otautahi. Heoi ano ko taku noa ake ko te ki atu ki nga whanau e rongo nei i te ahuatanga o te mokemoke o te tangi o te ngakau. Mo ratou kua haere nei tukuna ratou kia haere. E kore e taea te aha. Engari mo te hunga ora ko taku noa ake ko te whaiwhai haere i te korero a etahi atu ki te ki atu kia kaha kia toa kia manawa nui kia taea ai te ki apiti hono tatai hono ko ratou kua okioki waiho ratou kia moe. Ko tatou te hunga ora tenei e whai nei i o ratou tapuae kia kaha mai e te whanau e nga whanau. Kia kaha mai tatou katoa ki te tiaki i a tatou ano. Tena tatou. 
[ 
Greetings once again to us all the House. To those who died tragically: slumber and rest there. You came because of your desire to see and view the great things that New Zealand offers including the forests and lakes but you have been tragically taken instead. So farewell slumber rest and sleep there in the arms of the unseen place. 
Each year tourists come here to New Zealand to see the beauty of our country. Some come to places such as the Franz Josef Glacier and Fox Glacier icons of New Zealand. When they see the ice and forests they are amazed. But just recently we have heard about the tragic loss of life taken by the powerful hand of death. However this kind of tragedy has historical implications. The Maori name for this place Fox Glacier is Te Moeka o Tuawe. The ancestor Tuawe fell and died while exploring the land. That is why it was called the resting place of Tuawe. His lover and wife wept. Her name was Hine Hukatere. Her tears flowed and the Franz Josef Glacier was created. The name of this place in Maoridom is Ka Roimata o Hine Hukatere Hine Hukatere’s tears. That is the explanation for that death.  
We should note that 17 years ago nine people died here as well—Hine Hukatere’s situation was revisited. Seventeen years ago some people died in an October 1993 plane crash. The two pilots and the seven tourists aboard all perished. Now we come to these people last Saturday who suffered a similar fate. They all died like Tuawe. The situation relating to Hine Hukatere is repeated. These follow the tragedy of 17 years ago when tourists lost their lives and now we come to this one on Saturday. Enough I say.  
But there is a message there somewhere. As in the situation facing the people of Christchurch we need to be cautious. I would simply like to say to families left forlorn and grieving that they rest. In regard to those who have passed on let them go. There is little else that can be done. But for us the living I simply say that we pursue the words expressed by others: be strong courageous and stout of heart so it can be stated that the lines are united and joined. Allow those who have passed on to rest there. We the living are the ones who will follow in their footsteps. Be staunch the family and families. Let us all be strong and helpful for each other. Greetings to us. 
] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 Just as the peace and tranquillity of a crisp Canterbury morning were shattered early on Saturday by the brutality of the earthquake so too were the peace and tranquillity of a warm late winter’s afternoon in South Westland shattered by the horror of the air crash at Fox Glacier which killed nine people. I share the support of others for the motion of condolence to the friends and families of all those who lost their lives in that tragedy. I simply make the observation that around New Zealand as we value our great outdoors lifestyle these forms of adventure tourism take place day in and day out and often no second thought is given to the potential risk or danger involved. That is what makes a tragedy like what happened on Saturday afternoon all the more hard to comprehend. By all accounts a routine event went terribly terribly wrong and nine people lost their lives. It is not the time to speculate on the whys and wherefores; it is the time to concentrate on the consequences for the families and the affected communities to acknowledge their suffering and their sadness and to express as a Parliament our support for them at this difficult moment. 
Motion agreed to.