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A Report on Certain Statements made in Respect of Air New Zealand Limited in September 2001

APPENDIX B: Transcript - stand-up 25/9/01

Q: 36 children coming off Tampa, who will look after them?

PM: if we have children in need of care and protection, then obviously the social welfare system picks them up. What we always indicated was that we wanted to take the women and children and the associated families, and that we would take other minors under 18.

Q: Are you surprised at the numbers of children that are coming?

PM: It is interesting to know how these kids came to be roaming the world in this way, but we don't have the answer to that. We will just have to look after them as best we can.

Q: What sort of pressures will this place on New Zealand in terms of looking after them?

PM: I think we will respond to the pressure. I have been really encouraged by the positive attitude across many groups in the community who want to be part of providing help and support and being part of seeing people make a go of being in this society.

Q: More pressure though?

PM: We accept the responsibility of looking after those teenagers properly. We are going to make it work for them.

Q: Will they bring families?

PM: I think it's just too early to say. There could be kids who need to be reunited with their families somewhere else. We are just going to have to look at each case on its merits.

Q: More parents?

PM: Anyone who comes to New Zealand as a migrant can then at some point look at what possibility there might be for other close family to come. We accept that with all migrants we receive, whether they are refugees or people who come in under the point system. We haven't had unaccompanied minors before. There is a particular outcome of the humanitarian crisis of the Tampa.

Q: Air NZ - anything to report today?

PM: Nothing to report.

Q: What's your recommendation to mum and dad shareholders at the moment?

PM: I'd recommend they hang on to them because I am a absolutely convinced that Air NZ has a viable future.

Q: Stephen Franks was saying that the government should give an assurance to people buying tickets that there will be an airline. Can you give that assurance?

PM: I am certainly having tickets bought for me on Air NZ and I have every confidence it's going to be flying.

Q: When you say people should hold on to their shares, are you saying that it won't go into statutory management, or implying that it could trade out if it did go that way?

PM: I think that whatever the path that is chosen, Air NZ has a very viable future as a company.

ENDS

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