Police investigate threat sent to rescue trust boss

Police are investigating a threatening email sent to the chief executive of Auckland's Westpac Rescue Helicopter Trust.

Rea Wikaira said yesterday he had given police the email, which said he was being followed and his boat would be destroyed.

The author claimed to be watching Mr Wikaira "quite often" and said, "nice house and nice boat it will be a shame when the boat is destroyed one night or day, you will never know when".

Mr Wikaira said he took the email seriously but did not know who was behind the threats, or why they were sent. "It was disconcerting to the family," he said.

Police had given him advice on personal safety, such as noting anyone who may be following him or vehicles hanging around. "I haven't noted anything of any particular significance," Mr Wikaira said.

Inspector Mark Hall said police believed they had identified the source of the email.

"The other party will have to be spoken to and, depending on the explanation, then a decision will be made [on charging the person] one way or the other.

Mr Hall said the email was "of concern" and "designed to be intimidatory".

Mr Wikaira joined the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust in 2002 and has led plans to buy a new helicopter.

The trust last year took action over a multi-million-dollar lease on its existing helicopter, owned by aviation company Airwork. It sought independent advice on the cost of the contract and took the company to arbitration.

The decision went in favour of the trust, and an application by Airwork to appeal was dismissed by the High Court at Auckland.