Air New Zealand Snubs South Island Tourism And Exporters
Air New Zealand Snubs South Island Tourism And Exporters
New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters is calling on the Prime Minister to use taxpayer control of Air New Zealand to stop the airline axing its Christchurch to Tokyo route in favour of Auckland.
“This latest axing by Air New Zealand is a massive snub to exporters and tourism in the South Island,” Mr Peters said.
“The Government has stood idly by while it axes services this month to Kaitaia, Whakatane and Northland and progressively cuts services from Hamilton, Taupo, Whangarei and Palmerston North.
“Air New Zealand is cutting a key international service for exporters and tourism that will add to the cost of doing business at a time when the Kiwi dollar is at levels against the Yen last seen in 2007.
“Mr Key and his government need to take action against the inflated Kiwi dollar and use taxpayer control of Air New Zealand to knock some sense into the airline. Closing a link to key markets just adds to the uphill battle for regional New Zealand,” says Mr Peters.
ENDS