A group of Queenstown businessmen has asked the Auditor-general to investigate the sale of part of Queenstown airport to Auckland airport.
The Office of the Auditor-general confirmed yesterday it had received this request and was considering the matter.
The Queenstown Airport Corporation, owned by the Queenstown Lakes District Council, sold 24.99% of the corporation to Auckland International Airport Ltd for $27.7 million.
The deal was announced publicly on July 8.
The Queenstown Community Strategic Asset Group was established the next day and now comprises more than 15 concerned Queenstown businessmen.
Spokesman John Martin, when approached, confirmed the group had sent "quite a long letter" to the Auditor-general about a week ago requesting an investigation.
Controller and Auditor-general communications adviser Anna Will said her office was "considering whether this matter warrants investigation by our office".
District council spokeswoman Meaghan Miller, said yesterday the council "continues to be open to OAG [Office of the Auditor-general] review".
Ms Will said inquiries might involve looking into financial, accountability, governance or conduct issues in a public entity.
The office would normally gather background information about the issues to assess what response was appropriate.
"If we think a more in-depth inquiry is appropriate, we will gather more detailed information and meet the relevant individuals and organisations.
"Once we have analysed the information and formed preliminary views, we seek comment from those involved to check that we have understood the facts correctly and to give them an opportunity to comment on our reasoning and conclusions."
If the issues were "complex", those processes might be repeated several times before the Office reached a final view.
"Many inquiries are concluded simply through correspondence with the public entity and the complainant."
"We may publish a report if the matters are of more general public interest," Ms Will said.
Any investigation could take between three and six months, depending on additional issues found.
The Auditor-general's role was to review and report on the actions of a public entity, making recommendations for change "where appropriate".
It did not have a judicial function, and could not make findings on whether an entity had acted lawfully or whether an individual was culpable for a particular action.
"We cannot overturn an entity's decisions or actions or prevent them from taking any action," she said.
"We also cannot provide any redress or remedies in respect of particular concerns, or direct a public entity to act on our findings or recommendations."
