Queenstown jetboat operator facing fresh charges

A Kawarau Jet co-owner last night said the company was conscious of its public image, pending fresh charges against the operator by Maritime New Zealand.

Maritime NZ refused to confirm whether the jetboat operator was facing charges, but Kawarau Jet co-director Andrew Brinsley said lawyers were notified of the authority's allegations.

Mr Brinsley said he did not know the specifics of the charges but the nub of the matter was the firm's alleged failure to report an engine-out incident and charges of operating unsafely in poor weather. The company faces 10 charges involving two drivers for operating unsafely by allowing tours to go ahead in high winds on December 18.

One of the drivers no longer worked for the company, Mr Brinsley said. No-one was injured during the December 18 incident on Lake Wakatipu, which included an engine cutout in rough weather.

Further explanation was unavailable until Kawarau Jet knew the details of the charges and the case against the company.

When asked whether the publicity surrounding jetboating had damaged the activity, he said: "It's something we have to be conscious of and we have to manage that just like any other things that happen in the marketplace." The company, or a representative, is expected to appear in the Queenstown District Court on August 23.

Maritime NZ spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst declined to comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News

Newest First

Oldest First