Air New Zealand President Tony Carter will retire next year and will be replaced by the current director, Dame Therese Walsh.
The airline said Carter had already told council that 2019 would be his last year as president. His departure could facilitate relations with the government
. This year, he muddled with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones, who questioned the company's commitment to the regions and called Carter issued a strongly worded warning to Jones about the need for the airline to operate with financial independence from its owner to 51% – the government – with which relations become more difficult.