Mystery plane chartered by golfing businessmen

MYSTERIOUS: The Beijing Capital Airlines plane which has been parked at Hawke's Bay Airport. Photo/Paul Taylor

A Chinese airbus parked up at Hawke's Bay Airport this week is believed to have been chartered by a group of businessmen on a golf tour of New Zealand.

Hawke's Bay Today understands that the group of Chinese businessmen are on a tour of golf resorts, including Kauri Cliffs in Kerikeri, the Farm at Cape Kidnappers and Matukauri Lodge in Queenstown. The three resorts are all owned by US billionaire Julian Robertson.

There were reported sightings of the plane at Auckland International Airport last weekend, giving rise to speculation that the group had beeen transported to Kauri Cliffs from Auckland.

A representative for The Farm at Cape Kidnappers said today that the resort would not be commenting on the issue.

Earlier this week Airport Company chief executive Nick Story said the Beijing Capital Airlines plane was a charter.

He said as with any Jetstar or Air New Zealand planes, there was confidentiality for the passengers of the flight.

An airport representative said the plane would be staying at the airport for the rest of the week.

Earlier representatives from Hastings District Council, Napier City Council, Horse of the Year, and Cape Kidnappers said they did not know why the plane was here.

Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule said he had no knowledge about any business allocations happening, but thought maybe those on board were just golfers playing at Cape Kidnappers.

The plane is an Airbus A319-100 and the airline has one such aircraft in VIP configuration.

Discussions on social media sites about the plane floated numerous theories - from the credible to the plane belonging to Neil Diamond.

A Twitter user suggested the plane had flown in from Guangzhou near Hastings' sister city Guilin.

Common theories focused on investors coming to purchase Hawke's Bay farms, vineyards, and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers.

Others suggested the visit was related to an incident in January when a shipment of NZ Miracle Water was sent back to New Zealand from China after it did not meet water purity requirements.