Dover Samuels - This is crunch time

Northland regional councillor Dover Samuels has warned that Northland is facing "crunch time" with the threatened demise of Kaitaia's daily commercial air service.

The former Labour Cabinet member, who was responding to criticism from this newspaper over the government's perceived lack of interest in Northland (Yoo hoo! We're here! November 10) said the community had to wake up.

"People have to be aware that if they lose this air service it will be the beginning of the end," he said.

"We can't allow it to happen."

He was "really pleased" that Mayor John Carter was taking a lead over the issue, adding that losing the Barrier Airlines service would have a huge impact on the government's economic plans for Northland. Mr Samuels would also be urging the regional council to "put some regional horsepower" into fighting to retain an air service.

"I don't think any ratepayer in Northland would not support that," he said.

"We must keep this service, and expand it. We have to encourage Air New Zealand [which abandoned its service earlier this year], through the government, to recognise its obligation."

Mr Samuels said he had been in Cabinet when the then Labour government bailed out Air New Zealand in 2002 (to the tune of $885 million, which gave the government an 82 per cent shareholding; that has since reduced to 53 per cent). Meanwhile Northland deserved more than platitudes from the current government.

"This is crunch time. The government has to put up or shut up. Tell us the truth," he said.

"[Northland MP] Winston [Peters] is making the right noises but he's in opposition. The government will isolate him as much as it can, and we have to give him major support.

"If he and [former Labour MP] Shane Jones head the next New Zealand First campaign [Mr Peters] will be a major player in the next government, and will be in a position to deliver for Northland."