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Minister charters helicopter using Pike River money

Author
Laura McQuillan,
Publish Date
Thu, 29 Jan 2015, 6:19PM
Environment Minister Nick Smith (Getty Images)
Environment Minister Nick Smith (Getty Images)

Minister charters helicopter using Pike River money

Author
Laura McQuillan,
Publish Date
Thu, 29 Jan 2015, 6:19PM

The environment minister's redirected what's expected to be thousands of dollars from Pike River mine plans to a chartered helicopter for TV crews.

Nick Smith met with the Pike River families in Greymouth today about their proposal to extend a nearby national park to incorporate the mine land.

He put on a helicopter flight to fly two TV crews over the site.

Dr Smith's office says the flight will be paid for from a government fund, intended for the mine's decommission - but the final cost isn't yet known.

Nick Smith last year spent more than $6000 in Department of Conservation funds on a helicopter flight for TV crews to film fallen West Coast trees.

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