Air New Zealand's and interested parties' experts will have made submissions to the Commerce Commission by 5pm today.

Submissions will be available from reception at the Commission's Wellington office, 7 floor, Landcorp House, 101 Lambton Quay from 4pm on Thursday March 7.

Background

December 1, 1995

Air New Zealand applied to the Commission for authorisation of its proposal to buy up to 50 percent of Ansett Holdings Ltd. Ansett Holdings owns Air New Zealand's only major domestic competitor, Ansett New Zealand Ltd.

January 26

The Commission released a draft determination saying that, on the information currently available to it, it would not authorise the proposal.

by February 27

Interested parties to make submissions on draft determination.

February 28

Submissions released publicly.

by March 6

Experts working for interested parties to make submissions.

March 7

Expert submissions released publicly.

March 12-14

Conference in Wellington to allow interested parties to provide further information and for the Commission to ask questions. The conference is not adversarial, the parties cannot cross-examine.

Venue: 18 floor, IBM Tower, 171 Featherston Street, Wellington

by April 3

Release final decision.

Media contact:(not Thursday) Communications Officer Vincent Cholewa

Phone work (04) 498 0920, home (04) 479 1432

(Thursday)Chief Investigator Geoff Thorn

Phone work (04) 498 0956