Bill Simpson was a Television One reporter based in Auckland at the time of the Erebus accident. Speaking to Steve Watters in 2024, he gave this account of covering the events of that day:
I was on leave the day of the accident at my house in Torbay. A news contact of mine in the business world was at a luncheon or business meeting in downtown Auckland. One of those sitting at his table was an Air New Zealand executive. Someone came to the table during the event and whispered something to the Air New Zealand bloke. He stood up and apologised and said he had to take this call (these are the days before personal mobiles and the like). He returned a short time after and looked shocked. He said he was sorry, but he would have to excuse himself. My mate found a phone and called me at home, this would have been early in the afternoon. He asked me if I knew what had happened at Air New Zealand, as clearly something was up.
I then got on the phone to the newsroom. Rene Barrett was the sub-editor of the day. He hadn’t heard anything significant other than a story that the aircraft had missed a radio communications schedule, but it was probably just a small hitch due to weather or something. However, we decided to gear up just in case. I was sent to Air New Zealand’s head office to make enquiries. Initially no one knew what was going on. But eventually the news broke that the plane was missing.
Later that night, when there was still no sign of the plane, Morrie Davis, Air NZ CE, held a media conference. I asked him if the plane had gone down in the sea or on the ice, and was it carrying equipment that might help those on board survive while they awaited rescue? He was pretty distraught and said that the plane was equipped for emergencies. Later the wreckage was found and the impetus for reporting moved from Auckland to Christchurch.
Part of: Hearing the news
Next page: Announcing flight out of fuel
