Air NZ too busy to concentrate on chairman

Air New Zealand's acting chairman, Jim Farmer, QC, is not commenting on suggestions that outgoing ASB Bank head Ralph Norris is in line for the permanent job.

A board committee headed by Dr Farmer has been charged with selecting the new chairman but has yet to meet, its work overshadowed by uncertainty over the airline's ownership and funding. Dr Farmer hopes to convene a meeting some time in the next few weeks.

Asked how long it would be before a chairman was chosen, Dr Farmer said it was difficult to say.

"I certainly hope and expect we will have a new chairman well before the annual meeting, which is the end of October." He would not be drawn on who was favoured for the role.



Air NZ chief executive Gary Toomey met top Transport, Treasury and Prime Minister's Department officials on Monday to discuss the proposed deal with Singapore Airlines. He described the talks were positive.

Today, he and Dr Farmer meet Transport Minister Mark Gosche. However, a meeting with Tourism Minister Mark Burton scheduled for this week had to be cancelled.

Dr Farmer and Mr Toomey have requested a meeting with Prime Minister Helen Clark but no date has been set.

A spokesman said the Air NZ issue was "some way from the top of her agenda."

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