Rt Hon Winston Peters
New Zealand First Leader
28 November 2012

Airmen’s Families Deserve an Apology From the Prime Minister

New Zealand First says news that three airmen died in a pre-dawn helicopter crash because it was too expensive to accommodate them in a hotel is a symptomatic of the Government’s slash and burn polices which have created false economies.

Rt Hon Winston Peters says the Defence Force airmen lost their lives on Anzac Day 2010 because the Government’s budgets could not stretch to putting them up in a hotel for a night.

“Most New Zealanders are being hurt by this Government’s austerity measures which have plunged the country down a black economic road.

“But these three loyal New Zealand airmen paid the ultimate sacrifice for the Government’s slash and burn policies.

“The Prime Minister should stand up today in Parliament and apologise to the deceased men’s families, and the country.”

Mr Peters says cuts to funding across the board, which the Government spins as saving the country money, are in reality costing taxpayers dearly.

“The devastating Psa outbreak is a prime example where the Government slashed border controls, opening the door for the Kiwifruit industry to be decimated.

“It is only time till another significant disaster occurs which can be attributed directly to a lack of funding, planning and foresight by the Government,” says Mr Peters.

“The total cost of hotel rooms for a night for these three airmen would have been about $600.”

ENDS

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