Two more quit CAA - maybe

The organisation in charge of aviation in New Zealand appears to have had more dramatic changes at the top - but nobody knows for sure.

Television One reported yesterday that Civil Aviation Authority chairman Ron Tannock and his deputy Hazel Armstrong had resigned.

But CAA director John Jones and media spokesman Bill Sommer did not know of the resignations when contacted by the Herald last night.

Mr Johns announced on Monday that he would retire in November.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Annette King would not confirm that Mr Tannock and Ms Armstrong had resigned, and said Ms King would make no comment on the matter.

Mr Tannock and Ms Armstrong did not return calls last night.

The CAA has been the subject of several damning reports by the Office of the Auditor-General.

Calls for change escalated in May after Christchurch coroner Richard McElrea gave his findings on the 2003 Air Adventures crash, which killed eight people. Mr McElrea made several safety recommendations concerning CAA, and his report lead to calls for senior figures in the authority to resign.