Keith Manch, Director of Civil Aviation; Chief Executive of the Civil Aviation Authority

Kia ora koutou katoa

Since moving from Maritime NZ to the CAA in February, it’s been a pleasure getting to know New Zealand’s aviation community. I want to thank you all for the warm welcome I’ve received wherever I’ve gone in the country.

I’m conscious of how difficult a year this has been for everyone in the aviation sector, given the impact
of COVID-19 on your business, workplace and families.

Our aviation safety teams have and will continue to do what we can to help, by being as flexible as possible in how we give effect to our regulatory responsibilities, without compromising safety.

Even while we are all coping with COVID, we are facing fresh challenges. The visits of the electric plane to Kapiti and Wellington Airports in the last few months is an example of the work to be done in emerging and green technologies. Over summer, we’ll be working with drone retailers and drone operators, so they understand the important role they play in aviation safety.

Our aviation security teams have been very involved in helping operate managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities, undertaking community patrols during lockdowns and more recently assisting with the management of regional ‘borders’ at airports. This work is not easy, sometimes taking officers away from their families and
putting them on the front line of potential COVID-19 exposure.

As and when we all move to a ‘new normal’, we will be alongside you, helping to ensure safety and security. My key focus is to support work that ensures regulation is fit for purpose and that it is applied in a way that responds to your challenges and pressures, being risk-focused, but still supporting a safe and secure system.

Within the CAA we’re continuing to strengthen our intelligence-led and risk based approach, so we are focussing on the things that matter most, and embedding our values of collaboration, transparency, integrity, respect and professionalism in all our work. Importantly these values are central to how we work with you all.

Finally, I send my best wishes for the festive season to you and your families. I hope next year is easier than the last two, and I look forward to working with you to help that happen.

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou.