Embattled CAA chair Nigel Gould resigns
Wednesday, 21 August 2019
Nigel Gould, the chair of the embattled Civil Aviation Authority, has resigned at the request of Transport Minister Phil Twyford.
Gould's resignation comes after a Newshub investigation led to multiple current and former employees making complaints about sexual harrassment and bullying.
Newshub reported that those complaints were 'covered up' by the CAA.
Earlier this month, Gould faced public criticism, including from Twyford, over comments he made about the complaints.
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'I don't know what the motive is for some of these people,' he said.
Twyford called the remarks 'ill-judged', but did not say Gould should resign.
That has clearly changed.
Twyford said he wanted fresh leadership at the organisation.
'I told Mr Gould the CAA was going through some big changes and it would be best to have fresh leadership at this time,' he said.
The CAA is the main air safety regulator in New Zealand.
It's been in the firing line for some time. In 2015 it faced criticism after a helicopter crash in Fox Glacier that killed 7.
The CAA knew of safety issues with that operator but did not act on them.
The Ministry of Transport is currently reviewing the culture at the CAA and its performance in regulating helicopters and small aircraft.
The report does not have a set timeframe to return a response, but it's understood that after some consideration, Twyford decided the agency needed to refresh its chair.
The crisis at the CAA follows a spate of similar concerns with other transport regulators.
Last year the NZTA, which looks after road safety, was found to have been negligent after ignoring multiple concerns about the companies that issued WoFs, carried passengers, and licensed drivers.
That review also led to high profile resignations, eventually claiming NZTA chief executive Fergus Gammie, and Chair Michael Stiassny.