Foreword

I am pleased to present this report on the sale of Paraparaumu Aerodrome by the Ministry of Transport in 1995.

I was invited by the Minister of Transport to undertake the inquiry, following a report by the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee in May 2004.

Although the events in question took place over a decade ago, the conduct of the sale provides a useful case study of a sale of a Crown-owned asset.

The report also discusses issues that can arise under the Public Works Act 1981 with former owners of compulsorily acquired land, and in respect of the Treaty of Waitangi with former owners of Māori land.

K B Brady

Controller and Auditor-General

22 September 2005