Joyce Steven: Motions — Fox Glacier—Light Aircraft Crash 
Joyce Steven: Motions — Fox Glacier—Light Aircraft Crash 
[Volume:666;Page:13679] 
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.