After string of crashes and near-misses, do helicopters need more regulations?

Helicopter safety has been a simmering debate in New Zealand for years.   It’s one that’s returned to the spotlight after several accidents and close calls over summer, including a horror crash on Australia’s Gold Coast.   This comes at a time when helipads are spreading across the country as wealthy New Zealanders look to skip the traffic by taking to the sky.  So as we see more helicopters taking to our skies, are we confident that we have the right regulations and training programmes in place? And should we be limiting the number of helicopters permitted to occupy our skies?  Today, Damien is joined by aviation commentator Peter Clark to get his thoughts on the growing prominence of choppers around New Zealand.     Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducer: Shaun D Wilson and Paddy FoxExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.