[quote=MOR] He had Air NZ's money and backing, what more did he need? Even a mediocre manager could have done that job.
I agree.... and would take that idea a little further.
Without wanting to sound too melodramatic.....I believe, RI dreamed he was destined to be a major player in the NZ airline scene with or without Air NZ 's help. In other words, he never really recognized the "hand that fed him" was Air NZ's.... without them he was destined for mediocrity!
However, one must have some business skills to survive (especially) in aviation. RI's... "skill"... was rubbing shoulders with the right people, hence his close association in the 80's/90's with the Brierly pirates..... sever that connection/influence and it all slowly came unravelled. Combine a healthy ego and enough knowledge of "piloting" to be liability and you end up with Origin Pacific story..... which I'm sure isnt finished yet.
Interestingly, the Brierly code of business ethics was well learnt and applied along the way.