Unpruned trees trim Air NZ passenger numbers

TREE LOVER: Geoff Fischer wants compensation for an earlier, unauthorised, trimming of his trees.

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A Rotorua man is refusing to trim trees on his land, forcing Air New Zealand to reduce the number of passengers on trans-Tasman flights into the new international airport.

The airport is to open officially with its first Air New Zealand Sydney-Rotorua Airbus 320 flight on December 12.

But the Environment Court has ruled the airport company, owned by Rotorua District Council, cannot prune Geoff Fischer's trees.

Mr Fischer, who is retired, owns a 2112-square-metre property about one kilometre south of the airport's recently extended runway.

Civil Aviation Authority regulations require airport operators to protect flightpaths of aircraft taking off and landing by controlling obstacles around the airspace.

The space surrounding the trees on Mr Fischer's property has been identified as part of the extended runway's new "obstacle limitation surface".

Judge Jeff Smith's decision means Air New Zealand will have to introduce weight restrictions by reducing passenger loadings on its A320 flights.

Passenger numbers will be reduced from 152 to 126 on the A320 aircraft unless Mr Fischer's trees are trimmed.

The court declined the airport company's application to trim the trees partly because the company had breached an earlier ruling involving Mr Fischer.

In 2000, the company trimmed seven metres from one of Mr Fischer's fir trees. The court had ruled it could trim the tree by just over three metres.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters plans to host local dignitaries on the first A320 flight from Sydney.

He said yesterday the airport company was "absolutely, very seriously" wanting to strike a deal with Mr Fischer.

"We are talking with Mr Fischer. I'm hopeful we'll get this settled before December 12," Mr Winters said.

Rotorua Airport chief executive George White and Air New Zealand did not return calls yesterday.

Mr Fischer said his attitude towards the airport company had hardened when it breached the earlier 2000 court order. He now wants compensation. The 10 trees involved include two firs, an oak, a kauri, a walnut tree and a eucalyptus.

Mr Fischer said he would meet Rotorua District Council chief executive Peter Guerin, who had called to see if a deal could be worked out.

The airport has undergone a number of upgrades in the past two years.

These include a new international arrival and departure lounge, a resurfaced and extended runway, expanded and resealed car parking and border control offices.

The airport company predicts Australian visitor numbers to Rotorua will be up to nearly 269,000 by the end of 2014.

- © Fairfax NZ News