PM's use of air force questioned

Last updated 23:39 07/10/2008

ON SCHEDULE: Prime Minister Helen Clark arrives at Invercargill yesterday, flown there by the air force after weather disrupted commercial flights.

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Prime Minister Helen Clark is being accused of an "abuse of power" by commandeering an air force plane to hit the campaign trail.

With thousands of travellers, including National Party leader John Key, grounded by cancelled flights in and out of Wellington yesterday, Clark called in the cavalry.

Directing her motorcade to the Ohakea air force base west of Palmerston North, she boarded a King Air air force trainer for the flight to Invercargill to take on a busy round of visits, including a meatworks, an early-childhood centre and a speech to Grey Power.

"The Prime Minister was on official Government business in Invercargill," Clark's office said.

"In particular, the Prime Minister was giving an address and making an announcement to a major public meeting hosted by Grey Power. She was invited as Prime Minister.

"In rare cases, the air force is used to transport the Prime Minister when commercial schedules are unworkable or do not allow her to fulfil her engagements. This is entirely appropriate."

ACT MP Heather Roy said the use of air force resources for what was "obviously campaigning" put other parties at a disadvantage leading up to the November 8 election.

"This is a campaigning day for the Prime Minister in Invercargill, and to use the air force's planes to get her there, because she wasn't able to use a scheduled commercial flight, is a terrible abuse of power."

Key was trapped at Auckland Airport, forcing him to reschedule a planned policy announcement at Parliament.

A spokesman for Key declined to comment.

"I think that is for the PM to explain. We are actually concentrated on other issues," he said.

"We got on two aircraft that were cancelled due to technical issues, and after that Wellington Airport was closed."

Royal New Zealand Air Force spokesman Squadron Leader Glenn Davis said the air force was allocated funds through the defence budget to provide the Government with 100 hours of VIP flying a year.

Davis said 98 hours was flown last year, and this year the Government had so far under-used its quota.

Labour and National will launch their campaigns in Auckland on Sunday.

It is not the first time Clark has run into trouble while trying to get to Invercargill during an election campaign.

In 2005 she was accused by an Air New Zealand pilot of keeping an aircraft waiting after she attempted to charter a plane to beat fog that had grounded the commercial service. Once the fog cleared, Clark cancelled the charter and boarded the Air New Zealand flight.

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The pilot, thinking she had made alternative arrangements, told passengers over the public address system she was "taking a private jet so much for supporting the national airline".

Clark took offence and entered the cockpit to remonstrate with the pilot, who was later disciplined.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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69 comments

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Mandar #69 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Give it up guys, what if it was government business, if she wasnt there there would be another headline, and also if she is PM she can do what she likes isnt it. !!! get over yourselves

John #68 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I used to fly for the RNZAF and have flown prime ministers and ministers of the crown from both National and Labour in similar circumstances on lots of occasions albeit many years ago. Key is off base on this one but just watch the pro national media beat up on Clark over this.

Rob #67 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

I have no problem with this at all. Shes the damn prime minister of this country and she (or any other prime minister for that) should have priority to travel.

Pathetic whinging

Fed Up #66 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

This is nothing. A couple of months ago Auckland Airport was fogged in, so she tasked a P3 Orion from Whenuapai to get her down to Wellington for her Monday morning meetings, even authorising normal operating speed limits to be exceeded. At a cost of over $10,000 per hour to the taxpayer of course. All she needs is a medal adorned uniform and a peaked cap covered with gold braid, and Helen would be the perfect 3rd world Dictator.

FTP #65 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Wata cheap guy the air force is for war and stuff i like the air force its cool as me

Michelle #64 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

You're awesome, I couldn't have said it better myself. BRAVO! :)

John Marshall #63 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Good on you Prime Minister for using the courteous New Zealand Airforce to fly you safely to Invercargill.I hope you met Mayor Tim and thanked him for his hard work also!As said in a previous article I read: "the air force was allocated funds through the defence budget to provide the Government with 100 hours of VIP flying a year". Best Wishes from a 'Helen Clark for PM' supporter from far away in South Korea. Sincerely, John Marshall Kwangju City, South Korea.

Adrian #62 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Yet another media smear campaign against the Labour government. Seriously, why is this on the news? It's not like any other government doesn't/wouldn't do exactly the same thing.

AJ #61 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

Tax payer dollars - hmm lets explore that.

By the way - I am on leave.

I am not defending Helen's antics for a second - it does appear to be blatant electioneering.

That said, the vast majority of the emails here appear to be done on work time there fore less revenue and therefore profits for the companies you work for as company tax is 33c in the dollar you are actually spending tax payer mines yourself (and without our permission).

Lets explore the other side Helen and entourage waiting in Aiport lounges? Expensive. Helen and a presumably much reduced entourage jumping on a smaller airforce plane (with a probably underpaid pilot) likely to be actually cheaper. A twin engined turboprop for a couple of hours - call it a grand (maybe $1500) TOPS.

I would suggest you probaly wasted more money bleating about this "red herring" of an issue instead of applying your collective intellects to issues of real significance.

Why don't you go and fix the sub-prime mortgage fiasco - yeah right.

Bruce Sinton #60 05:26 pm Jan 28 2009

She may as well use the Government Air Transport Service, as it is not actually an Air Force anymore. No combat training or anything like that would be effected.

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