their intention to fly that route. Hamilton was further vulnerable particularly as, at this time, Rotorua, one of New Zealand’s major tourism centres, an hour and a half drive to the south, was openly talking about extending its runway to target Trans Tasman services.
I
raised my concerns about Hamilton spending so much money on a new terminal before they had lengthened the runway. I felt extending the runway was critical for Hamilton’s ability to attract new airlines and more importantly by extending the runway Hamilton would eliminate the likelihood of an airline working with Rotorua to develop Trans Tasman services and thus potentially making Hamilton less viable. I felt extremely frustrated that my advice and opinions were ignored by my committee and the Board. I can’t help but think that the rejection of my advice and offers to help further illustrates my belief that New Zealand manages both success and failure in business very poorly. Tall poppy syndrome ensures that if you are highly successful you need to disguise that success to minimise the number of pot shots that are taken against you. If you are like me, and had a high profile business failure then any ideas or attempt at providing advice is at best ignored and at worst mocked. In Australia and the US business success is celebrated and failure is seen as part of the road to success. Experiences gained at the coalface are valued, and New Zealand and its economy are poorer for not embracing and celebrating success and constantly wishing to push under the carpet perceived failures. Despite my best endeavours, even to the point of trying to get Marryatt, Braithwaite and my fellow councillors to let me do more for the airport my ideas were pushed aside with them reciting the shareholders agreement precluding any Councillors on the board. However, Marryatt felt he could provide a panacea for the problems facing the airport and worked for the airport board as an unpaid adviser thus circumventing the shareholders agreement preventing any paid employee of the shareholding councils being on the board. He never asked me once for any advice regarding the airport. Airports are really real estate developments. Most make their money from parking and rent income generated by retailers based at the airport not landing fees, but the airport company still needs considerable aviation experience, to ensure that the airlines keep flying in to generate the foot traffic that
54 INVESTIGATEMAGAZINE.COM Feb/March 2012