March 28, 2006
Media Release

Show you’re really kiwi, workers tell Air NZ

Air New Zealand should put its money where its mouth is when it comes to promoting New Zealand, says the union that represents many of the airline’s workers.

Engineering, Printing and Manufacturing Union national secretary Andrew Little said that “New Zealand content” should be maximised in everything that Air New Zealand does – and he’s calling on the Government to instruct the board accordingly.

“It’s all very well to trade on the New Zealand identity and set up a mock kiwi bach at Melbourne airport, but part of being a New Zealand company is keeping Kiwis working,” he said.

“The Government, as 83 per cent shareholder in Air New Zealand, should tell the board that it expects it to maximise New Zealand content in all it does.”

Mr Little said that there had been numerous examples recently of the national carrier being prepared to sell kiwi work overseas, from the contracting out of aircraft maintenance to this week’s launch of the new corporate uniforms.

“These uniforms have been made in China, despite the fact they are made from New Zealand merino wool and could have been manufactured in New Zealand,” he said.

“If Air New Zealand is demanding loyalty from its customers then it needs to show the same to the New Zealand workforce.”

ENDS

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