Motion without Notice on Fox Glacier tragedy

Motion without Notice on Fox Glacier aviation tragedy

I move that this House notes the tragic loss of nine lives on Saturday in the air accident at Fox Glacier; and that the House expresses 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 spring day, and nine people set off from a small air strip at Fox Glacier, with four visitors to this country about to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful part of our country via the unique experience of a tandem sky dive.

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 onboard stood a chance.

So as the nation experienced the great relief of thousands of lives spared from a natural disaster, we also felt the great sorrow of nine lives lost in a terrible tragedy.

They were:
• Chaminda Senadhira (Queenstown)
• Adam Bennett (Australian living in Motueka)
• Michael Suter (New Plymouth)
• Christopher McDonald (Mapua)
• Rodney Miller (Greymouth)
• Patrick Byrne (Ireland)
• Glenn Bourke (Australia)
• Annita Kirsten (Germany); and
• Brad Coker (England).
The loss of each of them is not just untimely, but unfair.

For those that knew these people, this sorrow and the loss will linger for a 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 they are feeling devastated by what has happened. Tributes have flowed in for the victims from aero clubs and skydiving operators from 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, 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 “RIP Boys”. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing any of those who died personally, but from what I’ve heard, I’m sure 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 team had done and how straight-up yet compassionate they’d been.

She also told me how just about every home in the village has a view of the airstrip, and how many witnessed the crash or its aftermath.

And she told me how proud she was of the way the people of Fox have stepped up, despite their own shock at what has happened.

It shows what a great little village Fox is that one of the first things the people there have done is rally together to help provide comfort to overseas families mourning a terrible loss and those who were travelling in a foreign country with their partners or friends and who were suddenly left on their own.

We do not yet know what caused the plane crash. That knowledge will come in time, but right now it is a time for reflection, commiseration and remembrance for those who have died.

ENDS