Pursuant to section 59 (2) of the Public Finance Act 1989, the Minister of Finance makes the following statement:
"On 19 September 2003, I, the Honourable Dr Michael Cullen, Minister of Finance, gave an indemnity in favour of North Shore Helicopters Limited, Wanganui Aero-Work Limited and Forest Health Dynamics Limited under an agreement entered into between Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand acting by and through the Minister for Biosecurity and AgriQuality New Zealand Limited for the provision of management and delivery services of the operational headquarter services, and all associated operational components,
for the Asian Gypsy Moth incursion response in Hamilton and for the Fall Webworm incursion response in Auckland. The indemnity will indemnify North Shore Helicopters Limited, Wanganui Aero-Work Limited and Forest Health Dynamics Limited against third party claims in respect of any chemical effects, long-term effects on health or the environment, or other effects which may result in the future from the use of the Btk spray to eradicate the Asian Gypsy Moth in Hamilton and the potential eradication of the Fall Webworm in Auckland."
Dated at Wellington this 19th day of September 2003.
DR MICHAEL CULLEN, Minister of Finance.