The CEO of a Tongan airline flying a controversial new plane gifted by China says he is happy to have a New Zealand aviation expert visit to inspect the plane.
The boss of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu, says the plane is accredited and maintained under the carrier's maintenance programme and the Chinese manufacturer's requirements.
Mr Palu is also the engineer looking after Air New Zealand planes flying to Samoa and Tonga and he says his company has comparable maintenance programmes to Air New Zealand's.
Tonga's Deputy Prime Minister, Samiu Vaipulu, has refused an offer from the New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, to send an aviation expert, as he says it would offend the Chinese.
But Mr Palu says he has no problem.
"The aircraft is owned by the Tongan government, so I think if the Tongan government had some agreement with the New Zealand government to get this thing done then it would be good but from the operator's point of view we've done all we can to make sure the aircraft operates safely."
The CEO of Real Tonga, Tevita Palu.