Inquiry call after sale of airport

For the price of $27.7million, Queenstown airport is now a quarter-owned by Auckland Airport. Photo / Supplied

A group of Queenstown businessmen has asked the Auditor-General to investigate the sale of part of Queenstown airport to Auckland Airport.

The Office of the Auditor-General confirmed yesterday it had received this request.

The Queenstown Airport Corporation, owned by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, sold 24.99 per cent of the corporation to Auckland Airport for $27.7 million.

The deal was announced on July 8, and about 15 members of the business community formed the Queenstown Community Strategic Asset Group the following day.

Spokesman John Martin said the group sent "quite a long letter" to the Auditor-General about a week ago requesting an investigation.

Controller and Auditor-General communications adviser Anna Will said her office was "considering whether this matter warrants investigation by our office".

District council spokeswoman Meaghan Miller said yesterday the council "continues to be open to OAG [Office of the Auditor-General] review".

Ms Will said inquiries could involve looking into financial, accountability, governance or conduct issues in a public entity. The office would normally gather background information about the issues to assess what response was appropriate.

"If we think a more in-depth inquiry is appropriate, we will gather more detailed information and meet with the relevant individuals and organisations.

"Once we have analysed the information and formed preliminary views, we seek comment from those involved to check that we have understood the facts correctly and to give them an opportunity to comment on our reasoning and conclusions."

If the issues were complex, those processes may be repeated several times before the office reached a final view. Any investigation could take between three and six months.

The Auditor-General's role was to review and report on the actions of a public entity, making recommendations for change where appropriate.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES