The Commerce Commission conference to gather information about Air New Zealand's application for authorisation to buy up to 50 percent of Ansett Holdings will be open to the media.

The conference is an opportunity for Air New Zealand and interested parties to provide further information and for the Commission to ask questions. It is not an adversarial process. Participants will not question or cross examine each other.

Participation is limited to the applicant and interested parties, but the public may observe and the media may report the conference.

During the confidential session, the room will be cleared of all people except the presenters and other parties' experts and legal counsel who have signed confidentiality orders.

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

Media contact:Communications Officer Vincent Cholewa

Phone work (04) 498 0920, home (04) 479 1432, mobile 025 461 617

At the conference:Chief Investigator Geoff Thorn

Air NZ Conference

12-14 March 1996

Tuesday 12 March

10amAir New Zealand

11.30amMorning Tea

11.45amAir New Zealand

1pmLunch

2pmAir New Zealand

3.30pmAfternoon Tea

3.45pmAir New Zealand

5pmEnd of day

Wednesday 13 March

9am - 12pmCONFIDENTIAL SESSION - Air NZ

No public access

12pmLunch

1pmNews Corporation Limited/

Ansett Holdings Limited

2.30pmAuckland International Airport

3pmAfternoon Tea

3.15pmInbound Tour Operators Council

3.30pmNew Zealand Tourism Industry Association

4pmTravel Agents Association of NZ

4.30pmKiwi Travel International Airlines

5pmEnd of day

Thursday 14 March

9amQantas Airways Limited

11amMorning Tea

11.15amGreg Miller Holidaymakers

11.45amWellington International Airport

12.30pmLunch

1.30pmHuia Resorts

2pmMr Peter Wakeman

2.30pmAfternoon Tea

2.45pmReply by Air New Zealand

5pmConclusion of Conference