Tasman Pacific creditors vent their spleen

By SCOTT MacLEOD

It was the day that former Qantas NZ bosses faced their accusers - and said nothing.

In a dark room at Auckland's Aotea Centre, four directors of the failed airline sat impassively behind their water glasses as ruined staff and contractors accused them of being gutless.

They wanted to know what was done to save the airline, why they were locked out with no notice, what precautions were taken against a dropping dollar and rocketing fuel prices.

They told the directors what it felt like to stand in a dole queue, to be sacked when nine months pregnant, to lose their homes, businesses and livelihoods.

Most of all, they wanted the directors to reach into their pockets and make up some of the crippling losses of the people at the bottom.

But David Skeggs, David Belcher and Kevin Doddrell refused to answer questions aimed directly at them, Fred Watson said nothing, and Ian Farrant did not attend.

The one who did talk was former director Rob Campbell, who said he was a spokesman for the others.

Mr Campbell said only at the last minute did directors realise a deal with Australia's Qantas Airways would founder, leaving the New Zealand airline cold.

The directors had taken "appropriate advice", the airline had hedged itself against rising fuel costs, and the meeting was an "inappropriate forum" for some of the questions aimed at directors.

Qantas NZ died on April 21, owing 1700 people more than $120 million. Yesterday's meeting was a chance for creditors to hear how much money they were likely to get - and vent their spleen.

First, the 100 people sitting in Auckland and 60 listening in Christchurch heard some good news - receiver Michael Stiassny said up to $11 million would be shared between unsecured creditors. That works out at 7c to 11c for every dollar they are owed. Earlier, they heard they would get only $3 million.

Mr Stiassny said the airline grounded its planes before announcing redundancies because of concerns about what a pilot would do if he or she heard the news in flight.

Then things got heated.

Michelle Penn, owed $47,000 in redundancy and holiday pay for 15 years' work, said she was sacked one week before giving birth.

She had guaranteed people she would pay money she owed them, on the basis of what she had heard from management.

"I want to know how you feel about that. I bet you still go out for dinner and travel overseas, and all that has stopped for us," she said.

"If you've got any common decency perhaps you'd like to reach into your own pockets."

Mr Campbell replied that the directors were perfectly aware of the effects on staff, and Mr Doddrell said staff had done a fine job.

It was the only time any director other than Mr Campbell spoke.

Bruce Sheppard, of Waiata Publishing, said he had a pledge from Mr Doddrell's assistant that he would be paid for work on the airline's magazine - and never got it.

Mr Doddrell did not reply.

Greenlane Manor Motel owner Frank Hocken also asked the directors to fork out.

"I would like to think the directors, who are very wealthy men, would put their hands in their pockets and give us 50c in the dollar - that's the easy way out of it."

Malcolm Handley, who lost four businesses and 45 staff after the Qantas NZ collapse, directly asked Mr Skeggs and Mr Belcher whether they would face up to their creditors.

"Will you front up, irrespective of whether your legal beagles can get you off? I want to know what Mr Belcher's guts feel like."

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