In 2009, Air New Zealand issued a first apology - although only for its behaviour in the aftermath, not for the actual accident itself.

But on this year's anniversary, the airline finally issued that full apology that so many people felt was overdue.

"I apologise on behalf of an airline which 40 years ago failed in its duty of care to its passengers and staff," the airline's chairwoman Therese Walsh said at the commemorations at government house in Auckland.