Air New Zealand says it's staying put

Friday 10th August 2001

By Nick Smith

Air New Zealand says it is staying put despite industry sources claiming it is moving its operations offshore.

The sources say the national airline is gradually shifting operations management to Melbourne, including its heritage business, the Golden Oldies sports tournament.

The Golden Oldies is a global tournament through which Air New Zealand achieves international exposure but a spokeswoman said the heritage business was staying put.

Sarah Hopkins said Golden Oldies would continue to be handled in New Zealand.

She said sponsorship operations were also staying put, with Air New Zealand continuing its association with ballet, opera and rugby. It had, she said, recently signed up to sponsor the National Provincial Championship for another four years.

But despite the denial, industry sources are adamant Golden Oldies is crossing the Tasman.

Control of a number of Air New Zealand operations comes from Melbourne, including the publication of its flagship inflight magazine, Panorama.

The airline is deciding whether a New Zealand or Australian advertising agency will handle its international branding campaign.

Auckland agency Colenso BBDO is its present agency but the Australian George Patterson Bates is picked to win the account.

If so, that will mean plenty of local work for GPB's New Zealand sister agency, Generator Bates.

Air New Zealand has recently run the George Patterson Bates commercials featuring chief executive Gary Toomey - to the scorn and derision of local advertising luminaries.

A decision on the agency is expected next week.

Boardroom unity

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