Opposition accuses Govt of secrecy over Anzac crash

  • Breaking
  • 28/11/2012

By Adam Ray

Opposition parties have accused the Government of excessive secrecy over the investigation into the 2010 Anzac Day Iroquois crash.

A leaked report says the pilots flew in darkness from Ohakea because it was too expensive to pay for hotel rooms in Wellington the night before.

Labour defence spokesman Iain Lee-Galloway says the Government hasn't been open - although Defence Minister Jonathan Coleman says he has nothing to hide, and that budget pressures were not a cause of the crash.

A court of inquiry report blamed the crash on risk-taking and training problems, and the report - leaked to The New Zealand Herald - says there were particular issues with night vision goggles.

Stevin Creeggan was the sole survivor of the four crew on board and he's now preparing legal action, alleging the air force didn't provide safe work conditions.

Mr Creeggan's case is a first for New Zealand, but there are similar cases overseas - British families are taking their army to court, saying their sons died in poorly protected vehicles.

Two more reports into the handling of the crash investigation are due before Christmas.

Mr Coleman says he hopes to release them because he wants to be transparent.

3 News

source: newshub archive