KEY POINTS:
The public debate over a planned second airport for Auckland has turned nasty with one mayor accusing the country's largest airport company of "foul" and dishonest tactics.
Waitakere mayor Bob Harvey said he was staggered the Auckland International Airport Limited (AIAL) had given $19,000 to the Whenuapai Airport Action Group (WAAG) which he called a small ginger group opposed to a second commercial airport at the Whenuapai air base when the air force moved out.
Mr Harvey, whose council formed a commercial venture with Infratil and other local councils to promote Whenuapai as a second commercial airport, said they had long suspected the action group was being funded by "foul means rather than fair.
"AIAL is the business equivalent of the Exclusive Brethren," he said.
It was "a major listed New Zealand company hiding behind a supposed community group, acting out of total self interest, and trying to keep it all secret".
He said they were taking legal advice and considering a complaint to the Commerce Commission.
"AIAL has clearly been working in an anti-competitive way to undermine our project and protect their monopoly."
However, AIAL chief executive Don Huse, said his company wanted to promote debate on the issue and give a voice to public concern.
He said there was nothing secret about the financial or advisory support AIAL had given to WAAG or any community group.
He said the debate on the future of Whenuapai was of national and regional importance and his company had absolutely and utterly complied with the "very clear legislative and regulatory obligations" and had done nothing wrong.
"It is a debate that is important for all people in Auckland and in fact more broadly across New Zealand."
He said WAAG wanted to represent a local view, and did not have the resources of Waitakere City Council and Infratil. The council and Infratil had spent "enormous sums of money" on the due process, he said.
"We are happy to help out to help the debate be as informed and as open as possible."
He said the council was promoting an outcome and the challenge was for the community voices which opposed the plan, to be heard.
"I would be very concerned as a matter of principle if the voice of community interest was in any way to be stifled.
"They (Waitakere City Council) have a commercial interest in what is being promoted here and it strikes me they also have to listen to the community.
"It seems to me to be pretty telling that they are critical of any assistance being given, small as it may be, to community interests to register their concerns.
"Is that really democracy?" he said.
He said AIAL "absolutely refutes" any suggestion it had not acted openly and honestly.
- NZPA
