Air NZ staff in gun over emails

Fifteen Air New Zealand staff in Christchurch and Auckland are under investigation over the alleged misuse of emails. The latest investigation follows the 2004 sacking of eight staff who were found to have viewed pornography on their work computers.

Aviation Marine Engineers Association national secretary George Ryde confirmed yesterday that a woman worker at the airline's Christchurch office was being investigated for allegedly emailing a picture of Crusaders and All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter advertising Jockey underpants. The woman is understood to have taken stress leave, fearful she will lose her job. Mr Ryde said the Dan Carter email was "definitely" one of the more minor incidents.

A union official was in Christchurch yesterday for meetings on the issue and further meetings with Air NZ were scheduled for Monday. Air New Zealand operations and communications manager Rosie Paul said only 15 staff were involved in the inquiry, both in Christchurch and Auckland.