Omega Navigation System

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Keith Holyoake, commented today on recent press reports to the effect that an Omega navigational station may be established in New Zealand. "You will recall", the Prime Minister said, "that on 27 November last year I announced that a preliminary survey was to be carried out. This has recently been completed and a first assessment has been made of sites in the Lake Sumner and Lake Pearson areas, the Omarama district of North Otago an din the Marlborough Sounds. This survey has however permitted no more than an initial examination of the feasibility of establishing a station in New Zealand as part of the proposed world-wide Omega navigation system. More information must be gathered and assessed before it can be decided whether it would be advantageous to have the station in New Zealand or the United States Governments to establish an Omega station in this country. Should a New Zealand site prove suitable, the United States authorities will approach the New Zealand Government to seek approval for the establishment of a station and full consideration will then be given to the matter. It will be some time before a final decision can be taken, and if it is then agreed that construction should go ahead, it would take a great deal more time before a station became operational."

24 June 1968.