Air New Zealand chairman: Airline will 'always act independently of the Crown'

Air New Zealand chairman Tony Carter wrote (20-Mar-2018) to New Zealand Minister of Finance Grant Robertson to reinforce that the airline will always act independently of the Crown. Mr Carter noted that the Crown's shareholding in the publicly listed airline gives it equal rights to all other ordinary shareholders. Mr Carter drew attention to recent examples where the Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones publicly criticised Air New Zealand in relation to operational decisions regarding regional air services, while at the same time making reference to the Crown's 51% shareholding. Mr Carter stated: "Any appearance of a lack of commercial independence is viewed seriously by the Air New Zealand Board and is ultimately potentially damaging to the interests of all shareholders, including the Crown". [more - original PR]