National alarmed by alleged pilot licence scam

The National Party is alarmed by reports of an alleged pilot licence scam connected to New Zealand.

"Our aviation authorities must take immediate steps to make sure there is no abuse of New Zealand's pilot licensing rules," says National Party Transport spokesman Roger Sowry.

He's commenting after claims that a New Zealander has been sitting private and commercial pilot licences on behalf of Saudi Arabian nationals.

"It's worth noting that aviation authorities tipped off police to the alleged scam, but New Zealanders now need to know if this is an isolated incident.

"We need to know how it was allowed to happen in the first place and what we need to do to stop it happening again.

"There will also be the inevitable questions about whether this incident is connected with the operation of international terrorist groups.

"Those questions also need answers, despite the soothing assurances of Helen Clark that we live in a 'benign strategic environment'. "In the uncertain world climate, there is no room for complacency when it comes to national security," Mr Sowry says.

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