Maori airline 'not happening' - Trust
Maori airline 'not happening' - Trust
NZPA | Thursday, 22 February 2007
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A Maori trust says it has looked into launching an airline out of Nelson, but is unlikely to proceed at this stage.
Ngati Koata Trust chief executive Caron Paul said that a media report that the iwi was close to announcing a new domestic commuter airline was not correct.
She said the trust had done a feasibility study on a number of ideas including an airline last year, but had decided to focus on a biodiesel plant.
"At this time, we decided to invest our time and efforts into other areas."
Cost was one of the factors, she said.
Asked whether the trust was open to the idea at a later stage, Mrs Paul said, "We have investigated it and no decision's been made."
"We aren't starting up an airline as of yet."
Before her marriage, Caron Paul was known as Caron Taurima and has won many business awards, including the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for her computer training business, Carich.
Carich was placed in receivership after having cash flow problems in 2003.
She married Ngati Koata trust board member Dion Paul last year.
Domestic airline Origin Pacific also operated out of Nelson before it folded last year.