EXTRA POWERS SOUGHT FOR AUDITOR-GENERAL FROM SOE MINISTER FOR AIRWAYS CORPORATION REVIEW

The SOE Minister has been asked to give the Auditor-General specific powers to carry out his review of the Airways Corporation in relation to the Trumper documents.

This follows a meeting between the New Zealand First Leader, Rt Hon Winston Peters, and the Auditor-General, Mr David Macdonald to discuss the Terms of Reference for the Review.

Mr Peters said today that Mr Macdonald had explained that his powers are limited in this investigation because it will be carried under the Companies Act and not the Public Finance Act.

“This is because Airways Corporation is a State Owned Enterprise which sets it outside public sector conditions and it means that issues, such as not calling tenders for multi-million dollar equipment purchases, cannot even be raised.

“I am concerned that the Minister’s officials have recommended a limited form of inquiry, so I have asked Mr Burton to provide extra powers to the Auditor-General for this investigation.

“I have total confidence in the Auditor-General but understand the statutory limitations placed on him by these circumstances,” said Mr Peters.

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