Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/17698-closing-of-7-regional-aerodroms?unfold=1 on November 22, 2024 06:40

Closing of 7 regional aerodroms

Helen Wallis made this Official Information request to Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited

The request was partially successful.

From: Helen Wallis

Dear Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited,

Can you please provide me with all ‘Official Information’ includes documents and papers but also information in any format, including drafts, videos, recordings, and photos in regards to the risk assessments (clarified below) made before the announcement on 09 April 2020 - Airways reviews air traffic service levels at seven regional aerodromes.

I am interested in the risk assessments relating to the basis of this statement "Any changes would mean aircraft will still be able to fly safely to these locations. This includes freight, medical flights and future passenger services. The locations currently under review are those where air traffic had been low even before the outbreak, Airways CEO Graeme Sumner says."

I am also requesting information relating to the change in intent behind removing the services at these airfields as there is a discrepancy between the fore mentioned media release (summarised: as each airport completes its process Airways will withdraw the air traffic control services from its towers) to the position of the following media release for Rotorua (summarised: The goal has been to make sure that there is an evidence-based service in place at all involved airports)

"The Airport is an important gateway to the Bay of Plenty and wider Central North Island. It supports direct flights daily to and from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch for business and leisure travelers.

“The Airport has a mix of commercial, tourism, and recreational activity so continued Air Traffic Control services will support the Airport’s part in the region’s recovery from COVID-19.

“We will now work with the Airport to continue providing air traffic services,” he says.The purpose of the review had been twofold – to confirm that the right level of Air Traffic Control is provided at the airports and that appropriate agreements are in place for funding these services.

The goal has been to make sure that there is an evidence-based service in place at all involved airports that ensures safety remains paramount, without imposing unnecessary cost onto the airlines and other operators that use the aerodrome,” Mr Sumner says.

Yours faithfully,

Helen Wallis

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From: Christian, Marielle
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited

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Attachment OIA Request Risk Assessments Proposed Regional Tower Closures Clarification Letter.pdf
210K Download View as HTML

Morena Ms Wallis

 

Please find attached Airways initial response to your Official Information
Request dated 24 November 2021.

 

Kind regards

Marielle

 

Marielle Christian

Senior Legal Counsel

[1]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...

Level 2, 6 Leonard Isitt Drive, Auckland Airport, Auckland 2022

PO Box 53093, Auckland, 2150

 

e. [2][email address]

w. [3]www.airways.co.nz 

[4]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...
 [6]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...
   [7]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.airways.co.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.airways.co.nz/
4. https://twitter.com/AirwaysNZ
5. https://www.facebook.com/AirwaysNZ
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/48243/
7. https://www.youtube.com/airwaysnz

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From: Helen Wallis

Dear Marielle,

Thank you for your response.

3. I am also requesting information relating to the change in intent behind removing the services
at these airfields as there is a discrepancy between the fore mentioned media release
(summarised: as each airport completes its process Airways will withdraw the air traffic control
services from its towers) to the position of the following media release for Rotorua
(summarised: The goal has been to make sure that there is an evidence-based service in place
at all involved airports)”.

With this I would like to see information as to why and what caused the stance of airways changed between the first release and the last one, i.e from Airways has decided it will remove the services from the aerodromes to we didn't intend to remove them we just wanted to make sure the service we are providing is the correct one.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Wallis

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From: Christian, Marielle
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited





Kia ora

 

Thanks for your email. My work days are Monday to Thursday so I am not at
my desk today. I will respond to your query when I'm back at my desk next
week. 

 

Kind regards

Marielle 

 

Link to this

From: Christian, Marielle
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited

Attachment OIA Request Risk Assessments Proposed Regional Tower Closures and Intent Change Final.pdf
230K Download View as HTML

Attachment New Compressed zipped Folder.zip
2.3M Download

Kia ora Helen

Please see our letter of today's date attached.

Ngā mihi
Marielle

Marielle Christian
Senior Legal Counsel

-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Wallis <[FOI #17698 email]>
Sent: Friday, 3 December 2021 9:30 am
To: Christian, Marielle <[email address]>
Subject: Re: Official Information Act Request - Closing of 7 regional aerodromes

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Corporation.
If you do not recognise the sender or you are not certain that the content is safe, then do not click on any links or open any attachments.

Dear Marielle,

Thank you for your response.

3. I am also requesting information relating to the change in intent behind removing the services at these airfields as there is a discrepancy between the fore mentioned media release
(summarised: as each airport completes its process Airways will withdraw the air traffic control services from its towers) to the position of the following media release for Rotorua
(summarised: The goal has been to make sure that there is an evidence-based service in place at all involved airports)”.

With this I would like to see information as to why and what caused the stance of airways changed between the first release and the last one, i.e from Airways has decided it will remove the services from the aerodromes to we didn't intend to remove them we just wanted to make sure the service we are providing is the correct one.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Wallis

-----Original Message-----

Morena Ms Wallis

 

Please find attached Airways initial response to your Official Information Request dated 24 November 2021.

 

Kind regards

Marielle

 

Marielle Christian

Senior Legal Counsel

[1]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...

Level 2, 6 Leonard Isitt Drive, Auckland Airport, Auckland 2022

PO Box 53093, Auckland, 2150

 

e. [2][email address]

w. [3]www.airways.co.nz 

[4]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...
 [6]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...
   [7]http://www.airways.co.nz/assets/images/E...

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.airways.co.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.airways.co.nz/
4. https://twitter.com/AirwaysNZ
5. https://www.facebook.com/AirwaysNZ
6. https://www.linkedin.com/company/48243/
7. https://www.youtube.com/airwaysnz

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From: Helen Wallis

Dear Christian, Marielle,

Thank you for your response to my request for information.
Unfortunately it seems that a lot of relevant information must have been left out.
As an example but not limited to:
- there seems to only be the risk assessment for Milford aerodrome not for all 7 aerodromes
- the risk assessment sent seems to be only a general overview not the full detailed risk assessment
- there are surely more emails internally in Airways as an example between the CE, the Executive for Ops among others
- there are emails/conversations referenced in the emails sent which have not been sent through
- the initial meeting minutes at which the ELT must have discussed these proposals is missing
- also missing are the follow up meeting minutes etc
- the initial emails sent to the aerodromes to inform them of your intent to remove the ATC services
- the emails sent to or received from the MoT

From the information that you have provided I am unable to answer any questions that I have asked. Can you please fulfill the OIA request that I have made.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Wallis

Link to this

From: Christian, Marielle
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited

Attachment OIA Request Risk Assessments Proposed Regional Tower Closures Further Response 231221.pdf
207K Download View as HTML

Kia ora Helen

Further to your email below please see our letter of today's date attached.

Kind regards
Marielle

-----Original Message-----
From: Helen Wallis <[FOI #17698 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 22 December 2021 6:55 pm
To: Christian, Marielle <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information Act Request - Closing of 7 regional aerodromes

CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the Corporation.
If you do not recognise the sender or you are not certain that the content is safe, then do not click on any links or open any attachments.

Dear Christian, Marielle,

Thank you for your response to my request for information.
Unfortunately it seems that a lot of relevant information must have been left out.
As an example but not limited to:
1. there seems to only be the risk assessment for Milford aerodrome not for all 7 aerodromes
2. the risk assessment sent seems to be only a general overview not the full detailed risk assessment
3. there are surely more emails internally in Airways as an example between the CE, the Executive for Ops among others
4. there are emails/conversations referenced in the emails sent which have not been sent through
5. the initial meeting minutes at which the ELT must have discussed these proposals is missing
6. also missing are the follow up meeting minutes etc
7. the initial emails sent to the aerodromes to inform them of your intent to remove the ATC services
8. the emails sent to or received from the MoT

From the information that you have provided I am unable to answer any questions that I have asked. Can you please fulfill the OIA request that I have made.

Yours sincerely,

Helen Wallis

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Helen

Please see our letter of today's date attached.

Ngā mihi
Marielle

Marielle Christian
Senior Legal Counsel

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17698 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://fyi.org.nz/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Your communications are important to us and we take appropriate
measures to access, store and scan for information assurance.
This electronic message together with any attachments is confidential. If
you receive it in error: (i) you must not use, disclose, copy or retain
it; (ii) please contact the sender immediately by reply email and then
delete the emails. Views expressed in this email may not be those of the
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited.

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