15 Oct 2019

Defence Minister overrules noise restrictions at Whenuapai

From Checkpoint, 6:08 pm on 15 October 2019

With a stroke of a pen, Defence Minister Ron Mark has overruled an Environment Court decision on noise restrictions for plane engine testing at Auckland's Whenuapai Airbase.

The developer, Neil Group, won a noise complaint case against the base in the Environment Court last month.

But Ron Mark has now stepped in and used his special powers to exempt the airbase from the Resource Management Act on the grounds of national security.

He says the court judgement is now meaningless and its "business as usual" at Whenuapai.