Hero pilot’s wings clipped after opening fire on Motat
Former RAF pilot banned from volunteering at our largest transport museum after publicly lambasting the organisation, writes Rachel Grunwell.
FORMER RAF officer Jonathan Pote had survived being shot at during a distinguished military career, but fell foul of Motat (Museum of Transport and Technology) management after criticising how the museum was being run in an article in Aviation News.
He despaired at what he saw as a lack of care in looking after rare museum artefacts, and raised concerns over low museum visitor numbers at a time when staff numbers and costs were soaring. Pote said the museum had been converted into ‘‘a theme park for youngsters’’.
He also raised concerns that items of historical importance had not been acquired – using Motat’s initials to describe it as ‘‘Missed Opportunities Time After Time’’.
Pote said: ‘‘I want people to know the museum is in trouble and I’m digging my heels in to tell people.’’
Motat chief executive Michael Frawley said he could not comment on the suspension as ‘‘this was a personal matter between Pote and the museum’’.
But documents show Motat’s hierarchy felt his article could damage the museum’s reputation.
The dispute erupted last weekend when Pote was removed from a Motat function by police during a function to thank museum volunteers in Auckland last Sunday.
Pote said Frawley repeatedly told him to ‘‘get out’’ at the function, and when he refused police ‘‘politely chucked me out’’ in front of fellow volunteers – some of whom photographed the drama. Pote said six volunteers walked out in protest of his treatment.
Frawley said he told the venue that Pote ‘‘wasn’t invited’’, but it was then the venue’s decision to remove him.
He said Pote was not welcome at the function because he is ‘‘a suspended volunteer’’. Pote had volunteered at the museum for more then a decade, once showing rugby great Richie McCaw around, and said he had been held in high regard as an aviation historian.
The museum has been plagued by a string of troubles in recent years. Two years ago the deputy board chairman resigned, citing reasons including his despair at the the ‘‘dreadful’’ treatment of volunteers.
Two years ago, a secret 2012 report was leaked which revealed the museum was ‘‘dysfunctional’’, riven with ‘‘childish’’ infighting and there were questions over the poor quality of some exhibits. The report noted back then that rate- payers should be angry about how millions of public money was being spent.
Pote’s article criticised, amongst other things, Motat’s decision not to acquire the ‘‘Ardmore Bristol Freighter and our inability to secure the Iroquois helicopter that the previous Minister of Defence had allegedly offered us’’. Frawley said the artefacts had been carefully considered but were eventually declined.
Frawley said not everyone was happy about the new strategy at the museum to move away from ‘‘a transport focus’’. He said he was trying to implement a new strategy to make the museum more exciting and more tech- PETER MEECHAM/FAIRFAX NZ nology driven. Visitor numbers were expected to reach 300,000 by the end of June, which was an increase on the last two years.
Staffing costs had increased, and more staff had been employed, but this was in line with other museums and the reasons were outlined in the annual plan, he said.
Pote is a former doctor and pilot with the British RAF who has been honoured for active service in Saudi Arabia, Monte Negro and Croatia. He has been shot at, escaped a missile attack, and been honoured for saving lives. He has a string of medals and is a Member of the Order of the British Empire. Pote moved to New Zealand in 2003.
‘ I want people to know the museum is in trouble and I’m digging my heels in to tell people.’ JONATHAN POTE