Aspiring Auckland Airport boss denies conflicts of interest
A report in The Dominion Post says that aspiring Auckland airport director Lloyd Morrison has hit back at airport chairman John Maasland’s claims that he would have conflicts of interest if he got on to the board.
Mr Morrison, chief executive of Infratil, is a director of Wellington airport and also a backer of a proposed second airport for Auckland at Whenuapai.
His investment bank, HRL Morrison & Co, has $300 million invested in Auckland airport on behalf of Infratil and the NZ Super Fund.
Mr Maasland has said that the board considers Mr Morrison’s directorship of Wellington airport and his Whenuapai support mean he would have conflicts of interest if elected to the Auckland airport board on November 20.
But Mr Morrison said Auckland airport had previously told Infratil it had legal advice that Wellington and Auckland airports did not compete. “We had the same advice,” he said. “I would be surprised if there is any advice to the contrary in the legal community.”
“He may be right,” Mr Maasland said. “But I can’t recall that at all.”
On Whenuapai, Mr Morrison said: “We have $300 million invested in Auckland airport on behalf of NZ Super and Infratil. So why would I actually do anything that damaged the $300 million that we’ve got invested?”
Mr Maasland said the board was neither opposing nor endorsing Mr Morrison’s bid for a seat.
A Report by The Mole from The Dominion Post
John Alwyn-Jones
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