Unprecedented, rather than “not unusual”

Radio NZ report:

The Defence Force has conceded Prime Minister Chris Hipkins’ trip to China was the first time it had sent along a dedicated backup plane, despite earlier defending the practice as “nothing unusual”.

The decision last month to send a second Boeing 757 to Asia in case the first broke down attracted international attention and strong criticism from National and ACT, who described it as a source of national embarrassment.

At the time, a spokesperson for Hipkins defended having a Plan B to ensure the mission’s success.

“It is not unusual for the Air Force to provide backup aircraft, where available. This has occurred more frequently following a highly publicised series of breakdowns affected a delegation led by [former prime minister] John Key in 2016.”

A Defence Force (NZDF) spokesperson also told RNZ the practice was “nothing unusual”.

On further questioning by RNZ, however, the spokesperson could cite just two other instances since 2016 when aircraft were “officially tasked as backups” for prime ministerial travel – and neither were ultimately used for that purpose.

So both the PMs Office and NZDF said that sending a second plane along was nothing unusual, and weeks later we find out the truth – it had never occurred before.

So much for the podium of truth!