December 01, 2015
Air service loss could cost Maori tourism
Northland regional councillor Dover Samuels says the end of regular flights to Kaitaia Airport would be a disaster for the region.
Barrier Air is considering dropping its service because it can’t get enough passengers.
Air New Zealand stopped its service last year.
The former tourism minister says the national carrier needs to resume flights, because the airport is critical to the region.
"We’re left out of any opportunity whatsoever for economic development for tourism. Everyday, everyday we have buses that go up to Cape Reinga, we've got tourists coming along, flying by air many of them, enjoying the magnificent tourist scenario and Maori culture of the far north and Te Hiku o te Ika," he says.
Dover Samuels says Air New Zealand is still flying because of a massive bail-out from the Labour Government he was part of, and it owes it to regional New Zealand to keep them connected.
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