23 August 2007

Haere Mai – Welcome To Dubai Aerospace

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has said Auckland Airport Chairman John Maasland's claim that the Board and management are committed to delivering a uniquely New Zealand airport is a joke when they're looking to sell more than half the company's shares to an overseas company.

"Mr Maasland has extolled the virtues of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise's proposal to purchase between 51% and 60% of the airport's shares.

"But, in a press release today, Mr Maasland has gone to great lengths to impress the Board's efforts to adopt a new vision of representing New Zealand, and new core values of being 'outstanding' and 'uniquely Kiwi'.

"I would like to see him explain how he would deliver a uniquely Kiwi airport if more than half of it is owned by an Arab company. Perhaps this is where his 'new vision of representing New Zealand' comes into play.

"Mr Maasland ought to test the statements he has just made before he puts his signature to the proposal.

"The status of Auckland International Airport has major economic and social implications for the Auckland region and beyond, and by raising overseas ownership by more than 50%, officially making it an overseas company, we lose any rights to claim the airport as our own.

"It seems somewhat ironic that the company's 2007 interim report is entitled 'Haere mai – Welcome to New Zealand's airport' when the Board seems more than willing to pawn it off if the price is right. If Mr Maasland has his way, then perhaps the next annual report could read something like 'Haere mai – Welcome to Dubai Aerospace'," said Mr Peters.

ENDS

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