Editorial: Air NZ has not learned its lesson

OPINION: Air New Zealand has pulled a U-turn on its scathing attack on Christchurch businessman Mike Pero, but it was too little too late; the damage has been done.

The high-profile Christchurch businessman's plan to charter a flight to Antarctica for friends and family of Mt Erebus victims drew flak from the national carrier, which described, in a statement, Mr Pero's idea as "commercial opportunism of the lowest kind".

The statement went further than that and said the move was "deeply disrespectful".

Obviously, Mr Pero hit back and said he was personally moved by the stories of surviving families and wanted to help where he could. There is no reason to doubt his motives.

And also, why would a successful and reputable businessman be stupid enough to damage his reputation by trying to cash in on the country's worst-ever aviation disaster?

Even the most cynical person would struggle to form that opinion, which makes Air New Zealand's very public comments all the more astounding.

Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of the crash that killed all 257 people on board flight 901. Air New Zealand is flying a selection of relatives to Antarctica to mark the anniversary, which is, of course, fitting.

It appears that the company is trying too hard to control the commemoration of the event that this country will never forget.

The reality, however, is that the accident was more than a plane crash – much more.

It was, and is, an enduring part of our country's identity and makeup and, for want of a better phrase, it belongs to us all.

The tragedy rippled through all New Zealand.

Everyone remembers where they were when they heard the news, and many had some connection to the disaster through family, friends, and friends of friends.

Air New Zealand was hammered at the time for how it dealt with the aftermath of Erebus, and its reputation suffered because of that.

In recent times, largely through chief executive Rob Fyfe, the company has tried to atone for its mistakes. The company is now trying to mollify the latest situation by downplaying the original statement, but it is still a monumental blunder that undoes a lot of good work. It seems clear that the company has not learned its lesson.

Reading the news that the Manawatu River is one of the filthiest in the Western world was hard to stomach and shameful for the region.

What could be, and should be, a jewel in the crown of the region, has rightly been described as an environmental basketcase.

It's easy to lay blame about why the situation is so dire, but that doesn't change the fact that the major waterway is terribly polluted.

- © Fairfax NZ News