By SCOTT INGLIS
An unconscious burns victim bound for treatment in New Zealand was kept waiting on a stretcher at Tahiti airport for nearly an hour because of a wrangle over his ticket.
Air New Zealand would not let the man - Bernard Tevaearai, a Tahiti Government official in his 50s - board flight NZ69 on March 28 because he did not have a return ticket, as required by New Zealand immigration rules.
Mr Tevaearai was badly burned by a pot of hot cooking oil and needed treatment in New Zealand because Tahiti does not have a specialist burns unit. His departure was delayed initially by nine days because he suffered a heart attack in hospital and doctors wanted him to stabilise before moving him.
When he finally reached the airport, with just a one-way ticket, Air New Zealand staff said he could not board the plane unless he paid the return fare. His boss, Tahiti Environment Minister Lucie Lucas, drove home and returned with a cheque for the $NZ2262 return fare.
Mr Lucas was outraged at the way Mr Tevaearai was treated and threatened to write to the New Zealand Government.
Air New Zealand said it was not to blame. Under New Zealand immigration laws, anyone coming into the country must meet certain criteria.
A spokesman for Mr Lucas said he could not understand why Air New Zealand could not sort out the paper-work once the flight had left. "There's no considering any life value - that's why the minister was so upset."
Air New Zealand's French Polynesia manager, Alan Roman, said the airline only found out about the ticket problem when Mr Tevaearai was checked in. The booking, he said, had been made by a travel agency which did not issue correct documentation.
"We phoned New Zealand Immigration in Auckland to seek an exemption for this special medical case. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the request was turned down," he said.
"Failure to resolve the problem upon departure would have only created a greater problem for the passenger upon his arrival in New Zealand."
A spokesman for Immigration Minister Lianne Dalziel said she would not be able to comment until she received more information on the case.
Air NZ keeps burns victim waiting
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