The Erebus Papers

The crash on Mt Erebus, in Antarctica, of an Air New Zealand DC10 with the loss of all 257 people board in November 1979 resulted in several controversial, high level investigations and inquiries and led to a number of books covering all aspects of these and the disaster. Today the controversy remains, but this intensive examination of the evidence before the hearings and subsequent appeals is undoubtedly the most exhaustive study of the official and judicial processes, with publication benefitting from the lapse of time between events and its release. The author's format covers 14 phases from pre-fligfht planning to the final appeal to the Privy Council in London and subequnt events, with extracts from all these proceedings used and then subjected to his frequent editorial comments. A prominant and respected New Zealand jurist, Justice Peter Mahon, who conducted a Royal Commision of Inquiry into crash was found by the Privy Council to have have exceed his terms of reference when he alleged a conspiracy by the airline in the form of an orchestrated litany of lies. In spite of this there remains a strong belief among New Zealanders that the Judge really got it right.