Air NZ-Saudi Shocker – where is your God now Christopher Luxon?

By
Martyn Bradbury
-
54
4085

What the sweet Christ is this???

Air NZ CEO Greg Foran says Saudi Arabian military work was ‘poor judgement’

Air New Zealand chief executive Greg Foran says its involvement in helping the Saudi Arabian military was a case of “poor judgement”.

Foran defended the airline on Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking show this morning after revelations the national carrier’s business unit, Gas Turbines, which specialises in servicing military marine engines and turbines, has been supporting the Saudi Navy.

What part of don’t help repair military hardware with a Human Rights abusing country currently embroiled in ongoing massacres is so difficult to understand?

‘Poor Judgment’ is going to Dominos or Pizza Hutt, this falls into the ‘What the fuck were you thinking’ category, and who signed off on this?

Why everyones favourite Evangelical White Nationalist Christian National Party MP for Botany…

Foran said the initial decision on the contract was made in 2019 before he took over the reins at the airline.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

Prior to Foran’s tenure, the airline was run by current National Party MP Christopher Luxon.

…yes. Christopher Luxon.

This doesn’t look good.

What were we doing, wiping the blood off these planes?

Why on earth is our National Airline Carrier repairing military hardware for a regime committing current atrocities and why on Earth would Luxon sign off on something as stupid as this?

I’m not suggesting malice here, just a woeful incompetence.

Thoughts and prayers.

UPDATE: Unbelievable – Luxon ‘doesn’t recall‘!

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54 COMMENTS

  2. If we are going to get high and mighty with this then you need to remove any trade with China, Thailand, Indonesia, most of the Middle East (including Iran) and a number of other countries that have similar foreign policy and internal human rights issues. How’s the economic situation then?

    Otherwise you are a plain hypocrite.

    P.S. favoring Iran in regards to the Yemen situation ain’t going to do you any favors politically or economically either with the bulk of the Middle East unless of course you are going to open a 2-way travel bubble with Lebanon. Do you really want Emirates to not fly to NZ? It’s one of our only lifelines with Europe. The Blairite will have to tread very warily here.

      • NZ sold over $400 million worth to Saudi Arabia in 2019, you can’t tell me none of that went to their military. I don’t agree with lots of things the Saudi’s do but fail to see why Air NZ providing this service is substantially worse than any other goods or service we supply.

        • It’s just that this is suddenly out in the open while so much is hidden. But I don’t want this man anywhere near the reins of power. He’s soiled goods.

    • I’m both amazed and disturbed by the complete lack of relevance this drivel amounts to… So, mr genius, explain to me how an evangelical “christian” could have rationalised doing business with an administration that is currently using the equipment his company maintains and repairs, to engage in genocide? Or is that beyond your scope of understanding? I would understand if it is, as nothing I’ve read of your comments shows any real depth of intellect, or realism… As I understand it, Air NZ isn’t repairing/maintaining military equipment in any of those countries you mentioned… Do you not realise just how ridiculous your statement was? Or did you, but said it anyway, simply to carry on the party political trash talk?

      • So you’re cool with ethnic concentration camps then?

        For the record point out where I indicated I was pro this transaction. I’m not. I’ll return the favour and suggest you pull off the blinkers.

        • I think you might have missed the bit where Stefan said “this is not about trade”. That means he is not making any statement positive or negative about trading with either Saudi Arabia or China. What he and Martyn were both opining is that we should not fix WEAPONS used by Saudi Arabia to kill innocent people. I would not mind betting that if it came out that Air NZ was fixing weapons for China, Martyn would also write condemning that. If you are thinking of starting a petition advocating ceasing trade with China until they stop rounding up their minority populations in concentration camps, I for one will definitely sign it. But it is a completely different topic from whether or not NZ does business with the Saudi MILITARY, and if Stefan doesn’t want to sign your anti China trade petition, that is not an inconsistent position.

    • Usually Frank there is some coherence and sense to your comments but this time….? As one of the 52% owners of Air NZ, are you of the opinion that it is OK for NZ to object to other countries committing war crimes but OK for ‘our’ airline to be actively engaged with war criminals in their execution of the breach of international law. Even the US under it’s new President has backed away this time and is adhering to its laws on providing weapons material support of Saudi war crimes. However, at least Biden’s approach is unlike a when Madeleine Albright thought similar atrocities against Iraqi children, “…. was worth it.” On your side though, is the UK Government that is so desperate to maintain 40% of its arms sales, it has no qualms about starving and bombing the hell out of the people of Yemen.

      The trade of goods is in a different ball game providing active support of war crimes and reflects badly on a country that extolls it virtues as a moral, ethical country that believes in diplomacy and mature discussion of concerns and differences.

      In conclusion, why add the load bullshit assumptions and false equivalences as a PS?

      • I think you have missed my point. Namely if we are having issues with this type of “business” transaction surely we should be having issues with China that for all intensive purposes has work camps similar to Nazi Germany. We should be having similar issues with 2-way trade to Iran (yes there is some), Russia, Indonesia (West Papua) all of which over the past decade have shown at times no commitment to fundamental human rights.

        Not at all am I arguing for this type of transaction simply put it is hypocritical to apply this standard to Saudi Arabia and not others. In my view if you promote yourself as a “principled” nation you have to walk the walk and not pick favorites as it suits you as a nation. I disagree with the transaction however from a pure perspective if you disagree with this deal then surely all trade with China et al should be reviewed as well. Is ethnic cleansing less extreme than war crimes?

      • You’ve missed the point – I’m not pro this agreement at all however if we pull the pin here what about China that allegedly has Nazi style concentration camps for the uighurs, what about Indonesia that has committed atrocities in both East Timor and West Paupa, the cancellation of democracy in places such as Russia, Iran and Syria and so on.

        We have a sliding scale where we conveniently ignore some and yet others we are up in arms over. Usually this reflects the ‘politics’ of the political party in charge.

        Back the China – if the allegations regarding these ‘camps’ are true. Then we are we trading with them. I’m yet to see what the differences are between these and the Nazi work camps (not death camps) during WW2.

        • Ahhh Frank. Such incredible logic.
          So I’m walking down the street and I happen across a thug beating on a defenceless child/woman/youth and I intervene.
          Some bystander yells at me: “Hypocrite! There are beatings being dished out all over. Why aren’t you intervening with them?
          That’s you Frank.
          Why don’t you just shut up and stop making a total ass of yourself.

  3. The CEO is responsible for everything that happens under their watch. End of. An internal Air NZ investigating their “processes” is pathetic when we’re dealing with complicity in war crimes.

    • So is Jacinda responsible for everything that happens in her govt. Yes according to you. So why is Mallard still there? – he labelled a man a rapist and cost him his career and used our money to do the legal work.

      • You are mistaking me for a Labour Party supporter. I am not. They are just a slightly softer version of National.

  4. Air NZ was maintaining gas turbines for naval vessels not aircraft. The Saudi navy has had no direct operational involvement in the war in Yemen. There’s nothing here except a media beat up. Are you sure you want to apply that standard to our export markets?

  6. And yet again Air New Zealand shows its true colours – firstly contempt for New Zealanders over the air fare debacle, which it is continuing to stuff up and in the process insulting New Zealanders affected by it and now this latest involvement in what effectively is support for a regime that conducts the worst of human rights abuses.

    As is typical with this airline Air New Zealand refused to co-operate with the media trying to uncover this dreadful situation and then when the media did, it tried to down play and wriggle its way out of it by saying that it contracted through a third party to do this work. Oh, so this makes it ok does it Air New Zealand? Don’t treat New Zealanders like dumb idiots. You deliberately got involved in this and now you have blood, the blood on innocents, on your hands.

    Add to all of this, the former CEO and the current one deny all knowledge and the entire media push by Air New Zealand is to play this shocking saga down. I repeat – don’t treat New Zealanders like dumb idiots Air New Zealand.

    I heard on the radio this morning that the Government expects Air New Zealand to get to the bottom of this. Air New Zealand will carry out a diluted investigation, down-play the issue and then apologise and say they won’t do it again. Their spin people will soft-soap the issue but the big question is – will anyone be held to account? Short answer – No.

    • Right on Youngsuffrajet.

      The buck stops at the top.
      The Head is deemed to know what the hands are doing – fist year law as I recall – and not knowing is prima facie negligence.
      National has a problem here: Chris Luxon – the only one in the stable in my view, capable of resurrecting’s National’s unprecedented flight of voters last election.

      Luxon has a problem here. This will hang round his neck like Red Squad hangs around mine. “Perception”.
      And if Chris takes the time read OUT OF THE INFERNO – he will quickly be brought up to speed with political internecine warfare.
      They within National caucus who support Crusher, will have the knives out already.
      Luxon not only has to deal with public perception – the albatross around his neck, but as Wally Rowling once said:
      In politics its not the enemy you worry about. You can see them. Its your friends. They come from behind.

  8. ” we exercised poor judgement ” is the official statement. In other words we got caught and knew damn well what and who we were doing business with. Human misery is just a distraction when you have the opportunity to make money. Is anyone really that surprised ? we joined up to the financial criminal fraternity years ago.

  9. Luxon states he has no recollection of this foreign military maintenance during his tenure as CEO, emphasising responsibility now lies with current airline management! No doubt taking his cue from friend and former Air NZ board member, compulsive liar John Key. Feign memory blanks, always deny and never be accountable for personal actions. Perfect criteria for a National politician.

    Oh dear what a pickle to find oneself in, so early in one’s political career.

  10. So we have an MP Christopher Luxon, who used their power and position, to help a country carry out a sickening war which has targeted civilians – as policy.

    That said, if anyone treats him differently than the out of touch fundamentalist who is seeking the end of days , they are going to look very suspect themselves.

    Judith needs to stand him down.

  11. Deceit or incompetence?
    Former Air New Zealand CEO (and now National MP) Chris Luxon has said he doesn’t remember anything about his company’s war-crimes contract. Its a convenient memory loss, and strongly reminiscent of John Key’s tactics when confronted with wrongdoing (first, implausibly deny knowledge; then, claim to be “relaxed” about it…), and pretty obviously we should be suspicious of such a self-serving claim, and about the integrity of the man making it. But if we take it seriously, then Luxon is in fact admitting something else: that he wasn’t doing his job as CEO. Because avoiding involvement in war crimes is something any decent CEO should be keeping an eye on, and if this slipped past him, it means he simply wasn’t doing his job properly. And either way, having demonstrated either deceit or incompetence, he’s not someone who can ever be trusted in a Ministerial role. Or as a party leader.

    Posted by idiot savant No right turn.

  12. I’m sorry Martyn, you picked the wrong angle here. You’ll get little sympathy in view of how the govt conducts itself.

    • Right angle , wrong for right wing to comprehend. But as always it’s a Labour government at fault . What ever happened to personal responsibility?
      Spinning it again.

  13. The concentration camp guards in Xinjiang probably eat our lamb and Beef products too. Does our government care…..? Of course not, because there is profit in it.

    • All the evidence is that China is worth 40 billion in trade to us and trillions of trade to the world and yes this is a solid piece of evidence and everything that Chinas critics uphold like human rights abuse would pale into comparison when turning off trade with China. it would be a disaster. The math doesn’t correspond with reality. We need a way of differentiating ourselves from others who trade with China. It would be reasonable to conclude as we work our way through what it means to be a global imperialist power so that the effect of decoupling from China is not greater than the harm caused.

    • there’s a profit in it …. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/news/2018/09/19/TELEMMGLPICT000175084905_trans_NvBQzQNjv4Bqlz5OdA_D3VmrC4drz6CMya9AwgQD4Npf3GkFJvgcOWM.jpeg?imwidth=1400

      And here was me thinking NZ was the only country out of the white six eyes club (I’m giving Israel honorary membership), not to be making money out of, or directly involved in, the genocide and war crimes taking place against the People in Yemen.

      Turns out I was wrong …..

  21. Gone, gee us a job,nintey days do as we say,like them Germans,said to those religious,nintey days,do as we say,and become part of our flowing ashes as your nintey comes.

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