I think it was ‘an orchestrated litany of lies’, as Mr Justice Mahon said.
Next time I’m back in the old country, I’ll ask a few people who were around at the time what they think. I do remember a general suspicion that ANZ was telling porkies in the aftermath, though.
Peter Mahon wrote a book about the affair before he died, I think. I’ll try to find out what it was called and let you all know. It will make interesting reading.

I agree totally.
Mahon’s report was a well investigated and balanced report and he clearly pinpoints all the true causal factors of the accident.
The main reason for all the controversy I think was his complete lack of ‘pulling punches’ to the establishment – which included the Government as a major Air NZ shareholder. e.g his infamous “orchestrated litany of lies” statement.
I highly recommend the docu-drama “Erebus – The Aftermath” with Frank Finlay as Justice Peter Mahon.