MEDIA RELEASE
14 December 2012

ANZAC Day Iroquois helicopter crash reviews released

State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie today released an independent review on the implementation of the Court of Inquiry’s recommendations following the 2010 ANZAC Day Iroquois Crash. This was accompanied by a review of the roles and functions for health and safety in employment in the military context.

The review of the Court of Inquiry’s recommendations was conducted by professional services firm Burleigh Evatt. The review on the roles and functions in the military context was undertaken by the State Services Commission (SSC) in close consultation with the Labour group within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

The first report was prepared for use by SSC and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) to assist in completing an independent quality assurance of the implementation plan and actions taken by NZDF in response to the Court of Inquiry’s recommendations. The latter review examined issues on agency jurisdiction and accountability, identified statutory gaps, and developed a range of options in consultation with relevant agencies and with consideration of Government priorities.

The Iroquois accident in 2010 revealed the need for clarity as to which government agency is responsible for investigating alleged breaches of the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE Act) in the area of armed forces aviation.

Copies of the reports are available on http://www.ssc.govt.nz/iroquois-related-reviews.

ENDS.

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>