\u201cAnd for more than two years now, the AIANZ has put forward a strong evidence case to support more investment in an area that is critical to the Government\u2019s economic growth agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wallace said New Zealand last year would have to keep relying on the Immigration Green List<\/a> to fill shortages. <\/p>\n The Green List was established in 2022 to provide pathways to residency for people in professions deemed critical for the country.<\/p>\n \u201cOur vocational training institutes are turning away young New Zealanders from a vocation that offers an attractive career pathway,\u201d Wallace said.<\/p>\n The AIANZ has also raised concerns about a shortage of engineers<\/a> to fix aircraft in general aviation, across agriculture, contracting and search and rescue. <\/p>\n The Herald last August heard from Salus Aviation, which described a shortage of engineers for helicopters and planes. <\/p>\n Salus also said it was having to look overseas for engineers to staff overhaul workshops.<\/p>\n The Government at the time said no options would be ruled out to better train, recruit and retain highly qualified people in these roles.<\/p>\n Associate Minister of Transport James Meager today said $69m was being invested into doubling the number of places in trades academies.<\/p>\n That and some other inititiaves could help the aviation sector, he said.<\/p>\n Meager said Top of the South Trades Academy had partnered with Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology last year to deliver an aviation engineering programme. <\/p>\n \u201cThis investment will allow those opportunities in other parts of the country and support growth in the aviation sector.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the Budget also invested $15m into industry skills boards to develop at least eight new industry-led secondary subjects focused on a specific industry. <\/p>\n \u201cThis could include engineering pathways to align closely with real-world labour market demands,\u201d Meager said.<\/p>\n He said the Aviation Council\u2019s workforce working group was developing advice on how to address these issues, including for engineers.<\/p>\n \u201cI expect an update on this work following the next Aviation Council meeting in June.\u201d<\/p>\n Regional airline fund<\/p>\n Meanwhile, AIANZ said \u201calmost none\u201d of the $30 million allocated in September<\/a> last year to support regional airlines had been dispensed. <\/p>\n \u201cThis is most disappointing at a time when this support is so urgently needed,\u201d Wallace said.<\/p>\n In late February, Golden Bay Air<\/a> was announced as the recipient of a $1.1m loan. <\/p>\n Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones and Meager in April announced $21.952m for three airlines<\/a>.<\/p>\n That included $17.2m for Air Chathams to refinance debt, and $4.5m for Blenheim\u2019s Sounds Air to upgrade its fleet and refinance debt.<\/p>\n The Government said Island Air, connecting Tauranga and M\u014dt\u012bt\u012b Island, would get $252,000 for fleet maintenance.<\/p>\n The fund administrator is K\u0101noa, the Regional Economic Development & Investment Unit.<\/p>\n A K\u0101noa spokesperson today said the unit was trying to progress legal loan agreements as quickly as possible. <\/p>\n \u201cHowever, counterparties must obtain their own independent advice and be satisfied with the terms they are agreeing to.\u201d<\/p>\n It said that introduced a layer of complexity compared with more straightforward financial arrangements such as grants.<\/p>\n \u201cThe bespoke nature of loans to regional airlines also further increases the complexity of the loan agreements, which can increase the time it takes to finalise them.\u201d<\/p>\n K\u0101noa said loan applications needed robust due diligence to ensure Crown funding was used appropriately and taxpayer interests were protected. <\/p>\n \u201cThe timeliness of this process is dependent on applicants providing complete and accurate information,\u201d they added.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce funding is approved, even if contracting is still underway, recipients can proceed with confidence that government support will be delivered.<\/p>\n \u201cThis allows them to make necessary arrangements in anticipation of the funding being paid.\u201d <\/p>\n K\u0101noa said any payment requests would be processed promptly, as long as relevant approval conditions were satisfied.<\/p>\nAir Chathams was announced as the recipient of a $17.2m loan. Photo \/ File<\/p>\n