Ex-PM taken off plane for terrorist comment

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A former Prime Minister of the Cook Islands, Sir Geoffrey Henry, has been removed from an Air New Zealand flight for remarking that he was a terrorist when boarding the plane.

An Air New Zealand spokesman confirmed the incident took place yesterday in Auckland but would not name the passenger.

The Cook Island News reported this morning that the passenger was Sir Geoffrey, 70.

He was travelling yesterday on Air New Zealand NZ72 to Noumea in his role as president of the Cook Islands Sports and National Olympic Committee (CISNOC).

Air New Zealand's Cook Islands manager David Bridge told the newspaper "a passenger due to travel yesterday ... made an inappropriate comment about being a terrorist when boarding the aircraft.

"Safety of our passengers and crew is of paramount importance so the passenger was escorted off the aircraft. His actions were discussed and he has been booked on to a later service," Bridge said.

Police Constable Makiha of Auckland Airport Police Station told the Cook Island News that they had escorted a passenger off a plane. He was escorted back through customs.

"He made a comment to one of the crew members," Makiha said.

"As a result, the pilot decided that he couldn't fly with him on the plane."

CISNOC treasurer Helen O'Meara later said Sir Geoffrey decided not to go to Noumea and is instead heading back home.

The Cook Island News said Sir Geoffrey yesterday spoke to the senior vice president of CISNOC, George Paniani, and Paniani said he did not offer any explanation for the behaviour which led to the pilot to refuse to fly with him aboard the plane.

 "He is not in jail, he is in residence with his sister in Auckland, and will deal with the issue on his return. I have no doubt he will give a full explanation when he gets back," Paniani said.

Ministry of Sport chief executive Ken Buchanan said cabinet was upset with Sir Geoffrey.

"They are getting a full report from Air New Zealand, foreign affairs, and CISNOC and will be in a better position to give a comment after that."

A native of Aitutaki, Sir Geoffrey was prime minister from 1983 to 1999.

His uncle, Albert Henry, had led the Cooks to independence but was removed from office in 1979 in a scandal around the way his Cook Islands Party flew in voters from New Zealand during an election.

- © Fairfax NZ News