MEDIA RELEASE

14 April 2003

Life-long contribution to aviation recognised

The Ministry of Transport’s Deputy Secretary, John Bradbury, was on Friday night awarded the Royal Aeronautical Society meritorious service award in recognition of his 30 years of contribution to domestic and international air services.

Under Mr Bradbury’s leadership, New Zealand has completed more open skies agreements than any other nation, apart from the United States. He has led New Zealand delegations in some 150 bilateral air service negotiations, to several International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) assemblies and participated in the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Air Services Group. He has also assisted nations in the South Pacific, particularly Samoa, in developing their aviation policy.

“I am delighted that the Society has publically recognised the important role John has in New Zealand’s aviation,” says Secretary for Transport, Alastair Bisley.

“Both here and internationally, John has earned the respect of his peers for his foresight and dedication. His diplomacy and negotiation skills have contributed to the success of New Zealand’s trade and tourism industries. Without his leadership, this country would not have as many, and as effective, air services agreements with other countries. This has increased opportunties for many of our exporters, importers, travellers and visitors. John and his team have certainly achieved a number of world-firsts in the international aviation scene.

“Congratulations John from us all at the Ministry for a well-deserved award.”

Mr Bradbury was presented with the award at the Royal Aeronautical Society’s symposium held at the James Cook Hotel Grand Chancellor in Wellington on Friday to mark the first 100 years of New Zealand aviation.

A summary of John Bradbury’s contribution to New Zealand’s international air services:

- Involved in 1979 International Air Services Policy Review
- Led the 1980 Review of Domestic Air Services Policy, which resulted in the deregulation of the Air Services licensing regime in New Zealand in 1983
- Appointed controller Air Services Policy (international) in June 1981
- A member of the four-person team that reviewed and re-wrote New Zealand’s International Aviation Policy in 1985 which established “benefit to the economy” as the principal criterion for New Zealand negotiators
- Led New Zealand’s bilateral Air Services Negotiations from 1988
- Negotiated a Single Aviation Market agreement with Australia in 1992
- Expanded the scope of New Zealand’s aviation relations through Air Service Agreements now with 46 countries
- Conceived and negotiated the quadrilateral Smoking Ban Treaty with Canada, the United States and Australia.
- Invited to chair the World Wide Air Transport colloquium at International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in 1992
- Appointed General Manager International Relations at the Ministry in 1995 and, in that role, negotiated Open Skies Agreements with several bilateral partners.
- Principal architect and driver of the plurilateral Open Skies Treaty which is now known at the Multilateral Agreement on Liberalisation of International Air Transport, under the aegis of Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC). This was signed in 2001.
- Appointed Deputy Secretary (Air Services) at the Ministry in 2001.
- Concluded New Zealand’s Open Skies negotiations with Australia in 2000. This was signed in 2002.

ENDS

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