Air Chats Spring 2023

Air Chats

Kia ora tātou

Welcome to the spring edition of our inflight magazine.

Kiwis love to spread their wings in the longer days of spring and summer, flocking to old favourites and new destinations nationally and around the Pacific - and with this in mind we are expecting a busy adventure season from September to November! In preparation for providing a great service to all our destinations we have recently modernised and expanded our aircraft fleet, including the addition of more Saab 340 airliners to be used to support the retirement of our smaller Metroliner aircraft that have served us so well since the early 90’s.

We are also very excited to launch the Saab into the Whakatāne route! This will be a huge step up in passenger comfort and capacity, and, as this was the first route Air Chathams picked up after Air New Zealand removed services from smaller regional centres back in April 2015, it is amazing to see the growth in - and demonstrate the importance of! - convenient, reliable air services to regional New Zealand.

Our airline has also turned its attention to bigger and better services on our only international air service between Auckland and Norfolk Island. From September this year, the 68 seat ATR-72 aircraft will operate that route, which will again provide more seats and a larger spread of fares at prices ranges to suit our customers.

We are also very proud to update you on our sustainability initiatives; we have offset more than 38,065kgs of carbon since partnering with CarbonClick earlier this year, and have also sponsored the following amazing initiatives that we are proud to be a part of:

• Te-Pu-Nga-Maara – Donation of kayaks and 20 litter grabbers to their team.

• Whanganui Kaihub – Donation of free flights for their fundraiser.

• Trust Horizon Light Up Whakatāne – Sponsorship towards the show.

• Chatham Island Restoration Trust and KMP Nursery –Donation of over 600 trees via the KMP nursery.

• Pest free trap token and Chatham Island Restoration Trust – Donation of pest traps.

• New Zealand Opera School –Sponsorship of NZ Opera Week and their annual opera gala night. So it’s been a busy year and we look forward to sharing your journeys with Air Chathams through the upcoming warmer months, helping to connect you with colleagues, family and friends on our family owned, regionally focused airline.

Ka kite anō and safe travels!

Duane Emeny, Chief Operating Officer Air Chathams

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EVENTS/NEWS

The airline that brings New Zealand together.

HERE BE MONSTERS

Fearsome beasts once ruled the waves around the Chathams –and a recent discovery highlights just how fearsome they were.

16

MAKING MOVIES

Mason Cade Packer takes crowd funding to a whole new level on his much anticipated new horror flick.

20

THE FLYING PENCIL

It’s farewell to a friend as we wave goodbye to Air Chatham’s trusted Metroliner – The Flying Pencil.

24

IDYLL ISLAND

An hour from Auckland, a flora and fauna sanctuary lovingly created by volunteers: Tiritiri Matanga Island.

28 BRIDGE TO NOWHERE

It was meant to serve a flourishing farming community; instead it is a stark reminder of how best laid plans can flounder.

34

SHINING A LIGHT

Meet Samantha Poots, Whakatāne-based artist, event organiser and environmentalist.

38 SURF’S UP!

Add another string to Norfolk Island’s bow – it’s a bona fide surf paradise.

42 A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

The New Zealand Opera School is 30 years young next year –and we’re all invited to the party.

46 OUR FLEET

From single engine light aircraft to our turbo-prop planes, we’ve something for every occasion.

48

DESTINATIONS

Air Chathams is New Zealand’s largest privately owned airline, flying to some of New Zealand’s best regional destinations.

NORFOLK ISLAND

Events

The Harmonic Resonators - Rongo ki te Oro Tour

Saturday, 4 November, 7pm - 9pm

Te Raukura ki Kāpiti, Coastlands Theatre, 32 Raumati Rd, Paraparaumu

Join Aotearoa’s finest family band for an evening of lush harmonies, country guitar breaks, soaring yodels, and delightful banter. The Harmonic Resonators are touring on the big stage in 2023 to promote their second album ‘Rongo Ki Te Oro’ (Listen to the Music) and you don’t want to miss this feel-good Kiwiana show!

Blowing up on social media in 2019, the band has received over 13 million views to date for their renditions of waiata Māori, as well as their sensational performances of classic country and rock songs. Always entertaining, The Harmonic Resonators have struck a chord in Aotearoa and around the world.

Norfolk Island Theatre FestivalThe Theatre in Ferny Lane

Saturday, 23 September till Sunday, 1 October www.norfolkisland.com.au/visitor-info/eventscalendar/event/2-25th-n-i-theatre-festival

The Norfolk Amateur Theatrical Society

Presents the 25th Theatre Festival on Norfolk Island, offering a fantastic week of short plays performed by amateur theatre groups from Australia, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. Whatever your connection to amateur theatre, you’ll leave feeling inspired and equipped with new skills and support from fellow Amateur Theatre friends, so start planning your trip right now.

Wearable Art Extravaganza

Kāpiti Coast Art Trail

Weekends of the 4 - 5 and 11 - 12 November

www.kapiticoastarttrail.co.nz

The Kāpiti Coast Art Trail surprises and delights with a wonderland of artist studios, galleries and shared spaces. The Trail is a self-guided tour of discovery. Take a leisurely stroll through coastal gardens and arty enclaves. Escape for the weekend, bring your friends and discover something special on the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail. Wonder awaits.

Saturday, 21 October at the Rawson Hall Further information on Facebook ‘The Community Arts Society of Norfolk Island’. This popular evening is organised by the Community Arts Society and is a night out not to be missed! Showcasing the amazing talent of local designers who create outfits according to various categories, including natural fibres and recycled materials, and the open section this year stipulates that the outfit must be aluminous! (That’s containing or resembling aluminium; and yes we had to look it up).

INTO THE WOODS - Whakatāne Little Theatre with Theatre Whakatāne Inc.

Thursday, 19 October till Saturday, 4 November www.theatrewhakatane.org.nz

“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, Into the Woods. The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go to the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighbourhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse.

The Corrs - Down Under Tour

Wednesday, 29 November Spark Arena

www.heartofthecity.co.nz/auckland-events/corrs

Irish Celtic infused pop icons The Corrs return to New Zealand in November 2023. Joining them will be Aussie pop icon Natalie Imbruglia, the legendary Toni Childs and Adelaide trio Germein.

The Corrs are a family affair, Andrea (lead vocals), Sharon (violin, piano, vocals), Caroline (drums, piano, vocals) and Jim (guitar, piano, vocals) have sold over 40 million albums worldwide since their 1995 debut album Forgiven Not Forgotten crashed into the charts and stole our hearts.

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series

Sunday, 19 November Wynyard Point

www.heartofthecity.co.nz/auckland-events/redbull-cliff-diving-world-series

The 14th season of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series will hit Auckland for the first time this November.

This year, 24 elite divers are preparing to take their diving to the next level across seven high-stakes events, including the debut of three brand-new locations for 2023, and the 99th stop and series finale of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Auckland, New Zealand.

Air Chathams is hitting the road and coming to a venue near you as we join all the fun at some great Kiwi expos over the coming months. Hunting, fishing, 4x4 and lifestyles options are just some of the things the shows will cover and we’ll be there flying the flag. So come say hi - we love it when people say hi!

AUCKLAND

Retirement Lifestyle & Travel Expo

DATES: 9 - 10 September 2023

VENUE: Ellerslie Event Centre, Remuera, Auckland www.retirementlifestyleexpo.co.nz

ROTORUA

NZ Fishing Hunting & 4x4 Outdoor Expo

DATES: 15 - 17 September 2023

VENUE: Distinction Hotel, Rotorua www.wildnzexpo.co.nz

HAMILTON

The Sika Show

DATES: 28 - 29 October 2023

VENUE: Mystery Creek Events Centre www.sikashow.co.nz

TAURANGA

Woman’s Lifestyle Expo

DATES: 11 - 12 November 2023

VENUE: Trustpower Baypark, Mt Maunganui www.womenslifestyleexpo.co.nz

News

Halving power bills on Chatham Islands with a renewable energy system!

Much cheaper power is one of the hidden budget bonuses for Rēkohu Chatham Islands, with the government spending close to $11 million on setting up a wind turbine and battery system that will provide the island with renewable energy.

Households currently use diesel generators, meaning the Islands have the highest power costs in the country, and many homes are not adequately heated. It is expected that the system could save each household close to $1500 a year in electricity costs and offer a much more environmentally friendly source of energy.

Whakaari/White island: Bad weather wipes out last remaining sensors

Bad weather has wiped out the last remaining sensors on Whakaari/White Island. However, GeoNet says it has not detected significant changes in activity at the volcano over the past few months.

Whakatāne-based webcam images and monitoring flights confirmed continuing steam and gas plumes from the volcanic island with no significant changes in the active crater, GeoNet said in a statement.

“Following the recent severe weather, one of our surviving on-island sites has not recovered. Consequently, we can no longer receive data from the North Rim webcam and the Crater Floor GNSS (GPS) sensor. These were our last remaining reliable sensors on the island” GeoNet said.

Record GDP for Whanganui!

Whanganui’s GDP grew by 5.6 per cent in 2022, ahead of the national figure of 5.3 per cent, and also outperformed neighbouring areas Palmerston North (5.1 per cent) and New Plymouth (4.6 per cent). Whanganui’s growth is the highest it has recorded since 2005 when growth was 5.8 per cent.

Whanganui also recorded employment growth of 2.7 per cent, with a record 21,368 jobs in the region. Unemployment fell to 3.8 per cent in 2022, down from 5.7 per cent in 2021.

www.discoverwhanganui.nz/news/record-gdp-for-whanganui

THROUGH THE LENS

With Lesley Whyte

Photographer and regular Chathams Islands visitor Lesley Whyte takes a look at the past and present in this edition’s Through the Lens, with an exploration of sheep farming on the Islands.

“Sheep farming has been carried out on the Islands since 1842, with around 40 sheep farmers still operating. There is only one ship, the MV Southern Tiare, which carries stock off the

island to sales 860km due west on the South Island. There is no longer an abattoir on the island, with the last meat-works closing in 1994, and as on the mainland, sheep numbers have declined in recent years, falling from 103,600 in 1994 to 59,600 in 2016.

Near the southwest corner of the main island of the Chatham group is a small flock of feral sheep that appear to have certain Merino characteristics, and thus may

predate the Island’s change to long wool breeds. It is believed the Chatham Islands feral sheep have been living “wild” for almost 100 years, and it is possible that they originated from some Saxon Merinos that were taken to South East Island (Chatham Islands). The most noticeable difference between these and feral sheep of Pitt Island is that the Chatham feral sheep are mostly white wool, whereas those on Pitt Island are mostly coloured.”

Image titled “Much loved shearer’s moccasin”

Important Information for Visitors

The Islands are a place where you will enjoy many different activities. Nature, history, culture, fishing, walks and hikes, photography, art and craft, isolated beaches and bird watching. Here are a few key things Tourism Chatham Islands would like you to know before you arrive.

Respecting the Local Kai Moana Resource

The Chatham Islands are renowned for their abundant seafood. Help us preserve this valuable resource by taking only what you need for a meal and purchase fish to take home from the local factories.

Please leave the paua beds for the locals. They are an important local food source and resource that we don’t want to see depleted. You can enjoy lots of quality Chatham Islands seafood on the menus here on the islands.

Private Land Access and Signage

Unlike mainland New Zealand, most of the island, including the beaches, is privately owned land. Most attractions are on private land and access to them requires permission and payment of an entry fee. This must be prearranged and your host will be able to assist. Visitors are asked not to venture onto any private land without permission.

Natural and Archaeological Taonga

Voluntary Visitor Levy - $25 per visitor

To assist enhancing the visitor experience, particularly infrastructure, we encourage all visitors to make a donation of $25 directly to Tourism Chatham Islands:

ANZ Account: 06 0845 00796434 002

Particulars: Your name

Reference: Donation

Thank you for your support.

The Chatham Islands are rich in flora and fauna, geological and archaeological treasures – for example native birds, fossils (including shark teeth), and sites related to Moriori settlement, all of which are protected by law. These also hold special value to Islanders. Please respect these by not removing any items you find.

Water Conservation

Water is often in short supply and restrictions are put in place, particularly in summer. Please help us to conserve it when showering, flushing etc.

MONSTERS HE R E BE

THE CHATHAM ISLANDS are known for their rugged beauty and for the plentiful marine life that fills the oceans around them. Millions of years ago the marine life was also plentiful, but it was also, quite frankly, terrifying; huge carnivorous reptiles weighing tonnes, devouring prey with rows of razor-sharp teeth, a veritable menagerie of fantastical beasts. Ancient mariners marked unknown oceans with the cautionary phrase ‘Here be Monsters’, and for the seas around prehistoric Chathams it was a fitting warning indeed.

On your way to the Chathams Islands?

It’s not too late to book the PITT

ISLAND DAY TOUR

Including: Return scenic flights, full day guided 4x4 tour and a complimentary lunch at Flowerpot Bay Lodge.

For generations, it was believed that there had never been dinosaurs in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most scholars felt that our landmass was simply too young and no fossils had been found to dispel this belief. All that changed however, after self-taught fossil hunter Joan Wiffen discovered her first dinosaur bone at Mangahouanga, in Hawkes Bay, in 1975.

Find out more on tour details, bookings, conditions and pricing visit flowerpotlodge.co.nz or use your phone to scan this code

Flights operated by Air Chathams

Wiffen, who had served in the air force during WW2 and become interested in natural history from books she bought her children, had made fossil hunting into a family affair, frequently loading up the car to search out rocks encrusted with fish teeth and vertebrae. These were fairly common, small, and relatively recent, but the 1975 find turned out to be a much larger land-dwelling creature, in fact a theropod dinosaur. And while it would be several years before her findings would be completely verified, today the former presence of dinosaurs on New Zealand’s landmass is unarguable because of her work. Since then Joan and her colleagues have found at least three types of carnivorous dinosaurs, three kinds of herbivorous dinosaurs, and a flying reptile.

Beachfront Accommodation

Multi-Day Guided Tours

Fishing Charters

phone: +64 3 305 0212

email: bnb@flowerpotlodge.co.nz

www. flowerpotlodge .co.nz

The finds had a huge impact on the way we viewed our ancient history, and now, finds of dinosaur fossils on the Chatham Islands have had a similar impact on the scientific community.

The recent Chatham Island finds began in 2003 when theropod bones were found on the Islands by Dr Jeffrey Stilwell of Melbourne’s Monash University (Dr Stilwell did his PhD under Otago University associate professor of palaeontology Ewan Fordyce, this country’s leading palaeontologist, so in true Crowded House fashion we can claim some of the glory!).

It is the evidence of the big beasts that captures the wider public’s imagination.

Is your land working for you?

Subdivisions & Partitions

Boundary Identifications

Planning & Resource Management

Aerial Photography & Farm Mapping

Leases, Easements & Covenants

Chatham Islands and makes regular visits home to assist the community.

We value your unique connection to the land and use local knowledge to enrich it for future generations.

You can count on us to realise your project and help you get the most from your land.

Thinking of a project? Get in touch with a familiar face to see how we can help.

sheldon.mcguire@definition.nz

Taura hono tangata, taura here whenua When land connects us

www.definition.nz

And his finding was pretty glorious: a 2kmlong, ten metre thick deposit of bones, teeth and claws that has already produced more dinosaur fossils than have been unearthed in mainland New Zealand over the past 25 years. The 70-75 million year old deposit is held in silicified sandstone and conglomerate—now dubbed the Takatika Grit—and contains not just dinosaur bones but marine reptiles, sponges and molluscs, and even ancient plant material, including spectacularly preserved pine cones.

All those added extras really gets your average palaeontologist’s motor running, but it is the evidence of the big beasts that captures the wider public’s imagination. And what big beasts they were; included in the finds were fossils of the mosasaur, a huge carnivorous reptile that could be between four and ten metres long with a mouth bristling with teeth (yes, we are going to need a bigger boat), and the elasmosaurus, a type of plesiosaur also measuring up to ten metres long with an extraordinarily long neck,

but which thankfully ate mostly crustaceans and molluscs. There were also fossil remains of the theropod, the carnivorous monster that walked upright and is a part of the family of dinosaurs which were the largest carnivore to walk the earth; they are very much what we envision when we think of dinosaurs. The name theropod means ‘beast-footed’, and that pretty much says it all.

AWARAKAU LODGE

Luxury accommodation on the Chatham Islands

Looking for somewhere special for a relaxing getaway?

Chatham Island’s Awarakau Lodge is just 8km from Waitangi, with great coastal views from our lounge and dining areas, and the spectacular shoreline just a short walk away.

We specialize in small group package tours (max of 12), with expert local guides covering the island’s culture, history and conservation - we’ve been on the island for six generations so we know our way around. So check out our great seven night holiday packages and competitive rates and come on over.

Awarakau Lodge - Hosts; Greg & Rosemarie Phone: 0064 3 3050176

Greg: 027 699 1222 Rosemarie: 027 305 0069

Email: enquiries@awarakau-lodge.nz

We are a family owned and operated business

www.awarakau-lodge.nz

The skeletons are of an ancient species now named Kupoupou stilwelli in recognition of Dr Stilwell and using the Moriori word kupoupou meaning ‘diving bird’.

How the aquatic and land-based fossils came to be in the same place is probably due to the quaintly named ‘bloated and floated’ process whereby dinosaurs like the theropod would have bloated shortly after dying and been carried by tides before sinking to join their aquatic cousins in eternity. Or in this case until 2003 when Dr Stilwell arrived.

Other, more recent, fossil finds have also helped shed light on the evolution of penguins, in New Zealand waters and beyond. Penguin skeletons found on the Chatham Islands between 2006 and 2011 have provided a link between the known ‘giant’ penguins of the prehistoric era and modern-day birds.

The skeletons are of an ancient species now named Kupoupou

ILLUSTRATIONS BY Katrin Kadelke

Katrin, born in 1979 close to the Baltic Sea, in former East Germany, studied Architecture while working as a freelancer graphic designer. On the side she also offered her Illustrations to her clients and only a few years later the path for her work as an Illustrator was laid out. After one of her first solo exhibitions at the i-SITE in Weimar, the requests for Katrin’s unique, slightly cheeky and very detailed style grew. That was in 2009.

stilwelli in recognition of Dr Stilwell and using the Moriori word kupoupou meaning ‘diving bird’.

Kupoupou stood about 1.1 metres tall and appears to be the link between the ‘monster penguin’ Crossvallia waiparensis which was virtually human sized, and the modern-day penguins that still swim around us. Work on ascertaining just what that link could be is now underway.

Work is also ongoing to delve deeper into the hidden fossil treasures that the Chatham Islands have yet to offer up; they may be one of the most remote parts of our country, but they may also hold the key to a much greater understanding of our prehistoric past.

In 2010 she moved to New Zealand and lived in Christchurch and the Bay of Plenty. Now in 2023 her artwork, pencil drawings finished with watercolour, is found in exhibitions, museums, i-SITES, children’s books, postcards, magazines, politician’s offices, calendars, packaging and much more.

By coincidence (Well, it’s always by coincidence in life, isn’t?) her work for the Plenty Magazine in 2017- 2019 led to this cooperation with Air Chathams and illustrations you can see in this article. www.katrinkadelke.de

Stay, Eat, Discover at Hotel Chathams Stay, Eat, Discover at Hotel Chathams

DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

RESTAURANT AND BAR | AIRPORT TRANSFERS

RENTAL VEHICLES | GUIDED BUS TOURS

COORDINATE YOUR ENTIRE VISIT

Nestled on the shores of glorious Waitangi Bay, Hotel Chathams is the very best choice for your Chatham Islands adventure. From accommodation, airport transfers and rental vehicles, to guided bus tours, great cuisine and restaurant and bar facilities, we offer everything to make your visit to this unique archipelago fun, stress free and the trip of a life time.

Your host Toni Croon has tailored Hotel Chatham’s very own diverse and fully inclusive tours and activities to give you access to private lands, hidden treasures, unforgettable experiences and breathtaking scenery. And they are all led by locals for fair dinkum island experiences - so book your stay at Hotel Chathams today and let the adventure begin!

Discover - Tours and activities

• Nature watching, hiking & photography

• Fishing & diving

• Historical & cultural

• Luxury women’s adventures

• Seafood cuisine trails and so much more!

AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND has always punched above its weight when it comes to creativity. But given the size of our population and the pool of resources out there, our musicians, writers and filmmakers have always had to excel at being creative both on and off the stage, page and screen. The Kāpiti Coast’s Mason Cade Packer is the perfect case in point; the up and coming writer, director and producer has taken the DIY Kiwi can-do approach to funding his latest - and highly anticipated - short film to all new levels, roping in support from funders as varied as the local funeral parlour and dentist, to the garden centre and car dealer. It’s a journey that almost seems to be a movie in itself.

Making Movies

Looking back at his early life, it seems inevitable that this would happen. Packer’s older brother had also chosen film as a career, and would help to blaze his younger sibling’s trail into directing, as well as helping embed film in his early life.

“We watched a lot of movies together,” Packer says, “and went to United Video every weekend. Funnily enough the guy who was behind the counter - James Ashcroft (director of the recent Kiwi thriller Coming Home in the Dark) - ended up being my mentor 20 years later as he went on to be a successful actor and director himself, so between that and following my brother there’s a lot of full circles going on.”

There is also an uncanny prescience in that Packer’s upcoming film is, like Coming Home in the Dark, a spine-tingler. But that wasn’t where he started out.

“I actually started in documentaries because I had a crush on a girl in high school who was an environmentalist! So I made three or four environmental documentaries to get closer to her! I actually found a passion for the cause through that crush - and those docos went off and won a ton of awards, which of course when you are thirteen just struck a match to my ego!”

A stint at the New Zealand Broadcasting School followed and at 17 he made his first micro-budget film. “No one is allowed to watch that one though. . . But it really was the perfect way to throw myself in the deep end, and since then I’ve been kinda jumping from genre to genre but I think I’ve really found my place in horror. The problem with New Zealand films is that it can feel like everything always needs to be funny. It’s something that frustrates me to no end - and we have a real problem with film makers just replicating what they see around them - from Lotto ads to features, it’s all very similar humour and it seems we’re just making the same movie over and over again.”

When the time came to shoot his latest personal project there was only one place for it: the Kāpiti Coast.

A move to Chicago to pursue further studies followed, then a stint in Los Angeles which is still home and where he pays the bills. But when the time came to shoot his latest personal project there was only one place for it: the Kāpiti Coast.

“I’ve been making stuff here for years and keep coming back, and this community has always given me help, which is really so generous. I think it’s because we really do have such a great artistic community here, so even plumbers and car dealers understand what it’s about. To raise funds I basically spent hundreds of hours working the phones and emailing, so yeah, the sponsors are all over the place, but it has mostly been built around the Kāpiti community.”

“This is the biggest one so far for me, though it is still a short film as opposed to a featurelength piece. We’ve raised close to $100,000, but when you add in all the freebies and support we’ve been given it’s basically a quarter of a million dollar film. Which to me is kinda crazy as the biggest thing I’ve ever done previously is about $20,000. So to be 24 years old and given a quarter million dollar key to make a short horror movie with some of New Zealand’s best actors is mind blowing!”

Ryan O’Kane (Home and Away, Shortland Street), Beulah Koale (Hawaii Five-O), and Ben Fransham (What We Do in the Shadows) are just some of the world-class talent roped inlike the dentist and funeral director - to be a part of Packer’s film. “I really don’t know how we got such a great cast. I guess part of it is that they believe in me, or the script is good - or maybe they’re just bloody idiots!”

Without giving too much away, the film promises to be the stuff of nightmares. “It’s basically a boogieman style piece. But the twist is that our boogieman can make anything he touches go silent, so if you scream and he’s holding you, no one can hear you. I really feel that this film can change the game for me too. To be able to show people that this is what I can do with that level of support - something that looks great, feels great, has a great script - imagine what we can do with a full budget.”

We’ve got a feeling we won’t have to wait too long to find out. To check out his work visit www.masoncadepacker.com

“...to be 24 years old and given a quarter million dollar key to make a short horror movie with some of New Zealand’s best actors is mind blowing!”

-THEFlying Pencil

All good things must come to an end they say, and our Metroliner ZK-CIC has been a very, very good thing. It was the first Metroliner in our fleet, it was the first aircraft our Chief Executive flew as a Captain, and it has given us nearly 30 years of reliable service, making it our longest serving aircraft and something of an Air Chathams family favourite.

The Metroliners were first built by Swearingen Aircraft in the United States, and then by Fairchild Aircraft at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, and over the years there have been numerous variants of the aircraft including one developed for military use. It is a safe, fast and efficient commuter aircraft and is fully pressurised so that it can fly above the weather for smooth and swift journeys.

ZK-CIC joined our fleet in 1992 and has been a mainstay of our Auckland to Whakatāne route. As a Mark III version, which was released in 1980, it represents the pinnacle of Metroliner development, with a much larger payload, increased wingspan, several aerodynamic modifications and four blade turbo props. And it was those turbo props that made it such a popular choice for airlines around the world; capable of cruising at just over 500 km/h with a range of 1,100 km and two tonne payload, the Metroliner III was perfect for doing what we do best - connecting regional New Zealand.

Which is just what it has been doing since joining us to replace our Beech 99 ZK-CIB, Air Chatham’s first turboprop aircraft. The Metroliner, popularly known as ‘The Flying Pencil’ thanks to its long, lean fuselage, meant Air Chathams could introduce a more comprehensive schedule to the mainland, with twice weekly flights from the Chathams to Christchurch and three or four flights to Wellington. With the introduction of the larger Convair aircraft, the Metroliner was pressed into numerous contract roles, and with its large rear cargo door it proved it’s mettle in carrying cargo up and down the country, including live lobsters out of Invercargill!

operations wing - up until 2013.

Back in New Zealand, there appeared to be little heavy lifting on the horizon for ZK-CIC, but all that changed on 28 April 2015 when Air New Zealand withdrew its services to Whakatāne. Air Chathams took over the service the same day and ZK-CIC became the mainstay of the Whakatāne service, initially with twice daily flights on weekdays and a reduced weekend schedule, but from July of that year the weekday schedule was increased to three flights a day.

ZK-CIC had found it’s groove, Air Chathams was elated to be able to keep the Whakatāne community connected, and locals took the airline to their heart - so much so that in December 2015 Air Chathams rebranded

ZK-CIC in a unique Whakatāne colour scheme featuring iconic scenes of the district! It was a very visible and memorable reminder of Air Chathams commitment to the regions and was always a welcome sight in the skies above the Eastern Bay, putting in many hours bringing visitors to the beaches and connecting Kiwis.

Those long hours take a toll however. Recent maintenance routines have shown that ZK-CIC’s airframe is in need of significant work, and sadly this would just not be cost effective.

So it’s time to farewell a family friend. A friend that has carried sports teams and tourists, business people, aunties, uncles and loved ones, that has supported local economies and entire regions. And it’s a fond farewell because ZK-CIC, you’ve certainly earned your retirement.

Metroliner III was perfect for doing what we do best - connecting regional New Zealand.

AUCKLAND

Idyll Island

Lots of us have thought about it.

Win Lotto, buy an island, turn it into your own personal paradise and leave the day job far, far behind as you stroll through native bush to the trilling sound of bird song. Maybe send the old boss a selfie every now and then.

Given that most of our daydream retirement plans will never be a reality, it’s nice to know that we can live that island idyll even temporarily by visiting Tiritiri Matangi. Located just an hour’s ferry ride from the hustle and bustle of Auckland, this wildlife sanctuary offers the perfect introduction to Aotearoa New Zealand’s flora and fauna - as well as the perfect, calming escape from the big city.

Tiritiri Matangi - ‘tossed by the wind’ in te reo Māori - is just 2.2 kilometres square and is managed by a dedicated group of volunteers with guidance from the Department of Conservation. It is located 30 km north east of Auckland (just to the east of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula) and was first inhabited by several iwi who were attracted by the excellent shark fishing to be found in the waters around the island.

European settlers arrived in the early 19th century and in 1867 the Māori Land Court awarded title to the Crown. Farming also got underway in the 1860s, but the island’s main claim to fame was the lighthouse that was built there in 1864.

Pre-cast in England in half-ton sections, the iron lighthouse was only the third to be built in New Zealand and its goal was to help the increasing number of ships coming into the Waitematā Harbour avoid the rocky shore. Its oil-fired light was first lit on 1 January 1865, and the light was automated in 1925 when it switched to acetylene. Keepers returned in 1947 however and it remained staffed until 1984 when it was again fully automated.

Historic photos from Maritime New Zealand files and Marine Department images at Archives New Zealand

By the 1960s it was the brightest lighthouse in the southern hemisphere, putting out a whopping 11 million candle-power with a range of 58 nautical miles at a time when most lights shone for just 27. This achievement caused much disgruntlement amongst North Shore residents who claimed they were kept awake by the powerful beam. Equally disturbing was the island’s foghorn; according to an occupant on the island in the 1960s, its sound resembled the moan of a ‘sick cow’, and a later version had a tendency to switch itself on and off at random, disturbing the keepers sleep - and testing his sanity. Eventually the Ministry of Works gave him permission to switch it off altogether, but the lighthouse is still going strong and remains the oldest in operation in New Zealand to this day.

Most visitors to Tiritiri Matangi come to see the wonders of nature rather than human handiwork however. Farming ceased in 1971 and it was decided to establish the island as a sanctuary by letting the native bush re-establish, but it soon became apparent that this would take decades. Instead, in the early 80s an extensive regeneration programme was initiated, and over the following decades it grew into a large-scale planting project, with boatloads of volunteers replanting 280,000 trees and shrubs, starting first with one of the hardiest species, the pōhutukawa. An onsite nursery was also established and this was soon filled with 30 species of saplings grown from seeds sourced from Tiritiri Matangi and nearby islands.

Next up was a pest eradication scheme (the prime focus being the Polynesian rat) and the translocation of 11 native bird species, including the red-crowned parakeet, the North

The lighthouse is still going strong and remains the oldest in operation in New Zealand to this day.

Farming ceased in 1971 and it was decided to establish the island as a sanctuary.

Island saddleback, takahē, and the little spotted kiwi. Tuatara and geckos joined this island ark in the 2000s, and today Tiritiri Matangi is recognized globally as an example of community conservation. Around 60% of the island is now covered in regenerating forest, with the remainder left open to provide a mix of habitats, and the island is also an important education and advocacy tool.

And we can all be a part of it. There are regular ferry links to the island, and there are three excellent guided walks to join: these are highly recommended as they offer real insight into the regeneration of the island and the many native bird and plant species to be found there; booking is advised, so start planning your island idyll on Tiritiri Matangi and forget all about Lotto.

Bridge to

Nowhere I

T WAS CREATED TO HELP TURN SOLDIERS FRESH FROM THE TRENCHES OF WWI INTO PIONEERING FARMERS, creating a vital road link for what it was hoped would be a thriving and productive settlement; instead, the bridge across the Whanganui River for the Mangapurua Valley Soldiers Settlement is now a bridge to nowhere, serving only as an eerie reminder of misguided optimism and folly and failure in the face of unforgiving land.

It had started out so well. The New Zealand government was eager to reward soldiers returning from ‘the war to end all wars’ and to establish more farms for domestic consumption and all-important exports needed to help pay for the war. The Discharged Soldier’s Settlement Act of 1915 not only allowed for land claimed by the government to be parcelled out to returning soldiers, but also for the provision of loans to those soldiers to fund their initial start-ups. Thousands of returning veterans would sign up for the scheme in the years that followed.

The bridge had been promised and the bridge had been budgeted for and so the bridge was built.

The first of these came to the Mangapurua land parcels in 1917. Their adventure began either with some robust bushwhacking or a steamer trip up the river, followed by the crossing of a precarious wooden swing bridge, and a good hike to reach their designated claim; then they pitched their tents – on whatever level ground they could find on the steeply sloping terrain – and began months of backbreaking work. It was remote, hilly and untamed land, with all work carried out by hand, and many of the returned servicemen must have been reminded of their previous employment as ‘Diggers’, the nickname Kiwi soldiers gained in the First World War thanks to their prowess at earthworks. The first weeks were spent with slashers and axes, laying waste to the native bush, which was then burnt off leaving a wasteland that must surely have also reminded them of the burnt and battered battlegrounds of Europe.

It was remote, hilly and untamed land, with all work carried out by hand.

Then huge sacks of seed were manhandled up the slopes, the planting began, and they looked to help each other build houses and workshops, producing the timber onsite in seemingly endless two-man pit-sawing marathons. Hard yakka indeed, but with the optimism of youth and the sense of purpose and comradeship they shared, many of these pioneers would remember those times as tough but also almost idyllic.

Many also had a goal insight – the imminent arrival of wives. A large number of these were war brides, often English or Scottish women, who must have wondered what on earth they had gotten themselves into; with no running water, ‘rudimentary’ sanitation, and medical care and stores days away, this was true pioneer living. And yet, like the men, they simply got to work and set about creating a community and starting families. A school was established, there were regular Saturday night dances and – according to the excellent history of the area, The Bridge to Nowhere by Arthur P Bates, there were crazes for DIY plum wine and home brewed beer, picnics, and sports matches. At its peak the settlement programme was one of the last large-scale pioneering efforts in New Zealand history, with 30 farms in Mangapurua and 16 in nearby Kaiwhakauka.

With the optimism of youth and the sense of purpose and comradeship they shared, many of these pioneers would remember those times as tough but also almost idyllic.

An early settlers plough remains as a memorial to the families who tried to break in the land.

It was not to last. The country’s brief post-war recovery collapsed spectacularly in the early 1920s and there followed a decade of turmoil with falling prices, low yields and a run of bad weather that continually washed-out roads and bridges. The valiant settlers struggled on, vainly attempting to patch roads, and appealing for a concrete bridge to replace their timber one, while continuing to scratch out a living. But they also had to repay their government loans, they often had limited farming experience, and those that did were recognising that the land was simply not productive enough to be profitable. Soon, some were making the heartbreaking decision to walk off their land, and inevitably this turned to an exodus.

And then, with what has been described as ‘almost fictional irony’, in 1936 the new concrete bridge was completed. By that time only a handful of farms remained in production and the writing

was on the wall, but the bridge had been promised and the bridge had been budgeted for and so the bridge was built. The government had seen it forming part of a highway travelling eastwards across the North Island from New Plymouth, and it was just what the settlers needed. But it was ten years too late.

The new bridge also didn’t stop the constant road wash outs that plagued the area. In 1942, when there were just three families holding out in Mangapurua and the government’s focus was firmly on another distant war, a particularly heavy storm wrecked the road and the Public Works Department refused to restore it. In May of that year Cabinet ordered the remaining farmers out, and the last stalwarts packed up and walked or rode horses off the land they had spent decades trying to tame. The Mangapurua Valley Soldiers Settlement was at an end.

Mangapurua Bridge (Bridge to Nowhere)

A variety of hiking, biking, kayaking, and boating options are available if you want to see the Bridge to Nowhere for yourself.

Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau

Whanganui

Shining a

IT’S EASY TO BECOME ACCUSTOMED, almost blind, to natural beauty when you grow up and live amongst it every day. Often it is only when you see it through the eyes of others that you can reconnect to how wonderful it really is - and how important it is - and Ōhope based artist Sam Poots’ work, which focusses on the natural world around us and has a strong environmental theme running through it, is a perfect lens to do just that.

Samantha Poots is popularly known simply as Poots - “It’s one of those names that just stuck,” she says, “and I was never really in to ‘Samantha’” - was born on the Central Plateau but has lived in Wanaka and Hawke’s Bay to name just a few locations.

“I didn’t really have a huge interest in art at school,” she says. “I did have lack of ability at school however! Well, actually I liked the practical stuff, like wood work, but I grew up in National Park and was more interested in skiing. I’m dyslexic and was partly homeschooled, so me and my sister spent a huge amount of time skiing.”

When she says ‘a huge amount of time skiing’ she doesn’t just mean leisurely traversing the slopes, she means serious competitive skiing, including the 2012 Innsbruck Olympic Winter Youth Games.

“That was pretty much my life, but then I had a serious injury - and that was a bit of a penny drop moment as I suddenly had to think, what am I going to do with the rest of my life now! I’d always been creative so I did a fine arts degree in Auckland, and there is a stubborn side of me that thought, well, I’m going to do this. I don’t want to have an arts degree and be working in a shop, nope, I’m gonna make a job out of this.”

“The main style of work I do now is pointillism. I’d dabbled in that before going to art school, but once you get there everything is super contemporary and you talk a lot of crap to get through! And I struggled with that and once I got out of school I basically returned to pointillism. Sitting in an office at a desk is the exact opposite of who I am. We’re quite outdoorsy - we do a lot of hunting and free diving and surfing - so my surroundings have always been my biggest influence. So a lot of my art is based on the relationship of the human theme and nature.”

“My passion for the environment is something I see as a huge part of my art journey, from land based trapping, pest control, animal management, and understanding the human impacts on the ocean like shark fining, fishing quotas, plastic pollution, marine management, and sustainable harvesting. Each artwork can represent a certain part of the environment that is being impacted, and where appropriate I donate part of my art sales to trusts or organisations helping these certain species. But pointillism takes a LOT of time! And as soon as you make art your business you are essentially self employed, and that puts lots of pressure on the creative process. You have to wear so many hats to be an artist in New Zealand and finding the balance is never easy.”

Sam is also passionate about the arts community, both locally and nationally, and this has seen her shift into event management, particularly for the fledgling but growing Light Up Whakatāne event.

“Light Up Whakatāne is our local arts trail,” she says, “and while I’m not participating in it as electrical stuff just goes way over my head - I’m a real pen and paper girl - it has been a very cool platform to be involved in. It is a collaboration between Arts Whakatāne, the Whakatāne District Council and EPIC, the business support group here. Whakatāne is seen very much as a summer destination and what it needs is an event to draw people here in winter as well, because it is a great winter get-away-from-it-all destination.”

“A lot of my art is based on the relationship of the human theme and nature.”

“As soon as you make art your business you are essentially self employed, and that puts lots of pressure on the creative process.”

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“We really wanted to make it arts focussed, a curated event of local and regional artists, with some really amazing pieces. This is its second year so it’s good to be humble about it, but it has so much potential. And obviously being an artist I’m keen to see a thriving arts scene here. There’s some really good sorts out there who put in some really great work, and the support from local businesses has been incredible. There is so much creativity out there, and so many people who want to be a part of promoting art in the area. That is really refreshingI just wish I could find more time to do my own work!”

To check out her work go to www.artofpoots.com

great winter

Images from this years Trust Horizon Light Up Whakatāne - Light Festival

Surf’s Up!

NORFOLK ISLAND IS A PLACE WITH SO MANY HIDDEN WONDERS; the amazing food, the glorious fishing, the beautiful beaches, the rich history and the lovely locals. It’s not that it tries to hide these charms, it just doesn’t like making a big deal about them. And now we can add one more little known attraction to the reasons for visiting Norfolk – turns out it’s also a laidback surfing paradise.

That the surf’s up on Norfolk Island should really come as no surprise, given that it is an island in the middle of the Pacific. Nevertheless, it’s location has meant that it has flown well under the radar on the surfing circuit, which is a shame as it has so much to offer, from gentle waves that are great for beginners to more challenging breaks for those who are up for it. And the best part is that all these waves are to be found in absolutely

It’s location has meant that it has flown well under the radar on the surfing circuit,

stunning locations: Slaughter Bay and Cemetery Beach have consistent reef breaks offering up beautiful barrels (put it this way - the swells at Slaughter Bay were good enough to wreck HMS Sirius in 1790), with crystal clear water and sandy beaches fit for a postcard, while the truly magnificent Anson Bay has a pounding beach break lorded over by spectacular cliffs. Breathtaking views and heart-pumping waves; what’s not to like.

Images credit Norfolk Island Tourism

“Norfolk Island is a pretty special place for a surfer,” says Jack Entwistle - and Jack should know. The professional long boarder has been surfing pretty much all his life - hailing from Manly, Australia and having a world champ surfer for a father meant that was pretty much inevitable! - and has made numerous trips to ride the Norfolk waves. “I have grandparents there, so any excuse to get over there is welcome! It can be a little fickle, but it’s also pretty versatile in that it has a few different breaks which are better in different swell and wind directions. If one place is no good, then there are often waves to be found at another place. On a good day Norfolk is a pretty amazing place to surf. It’s off the beaten track and not as easily accessible as other places, but that is part of the attraction. You’ll often be out there on your own - which you don’t get anymore on the popular beaches - and when there is a lineup its just really passionate locals, so there is a great camaraderie there that has kinda been lost elsewhere. There is a cool little local scene with some great surfers and they are pretty welcoming.”

Jack Entwistle competitive World Longboard Surfer

Explore the history of the island and it’s hardy settlers, get out on the hiking trails, or sample the island’s amazing cuisine.

And an added bonus is that there is plenty to do even if the waves aren’t coming to the party and you have to wait for the swells. Explore the history of the island and it’s hardy settlers, get out on the hiking trails, or sample the island’s amazing cuisine, with what must be one of the most carbon neutral farm-gate-to-plate carbon footprints on the planet! Norfolk Island beef is excellent, but the seafood - it’s and island! - is the star of the show.

“Yeah if the water is flat then it’s a day for fishing! And the fishing is amazing,” Jack says. “The snorkelling at Emily Bay is fantastic too, golfing is a favourite, or even just hanging out at Anson Bay - there is a great vibe on the island that’s pretty infectious!”

Emily Bay

A night at the

OPERA

IT’S A VERY KIWI THING.

We see something that needs sorting, a gap that needs filling, a problem that needs solving - and we do it. Maybe it’s because we’re at the bottom of the world and know that no one’s going to do it for us, maybe it’s because we’ve always had a can-do attitude, but whatever it is it’s fair to say that from inventing the jet boat and jandals to universal suffrage and climbing Everest, Kiwis have been getting all sorts of stuff sorted for generations.

And if you want a great example of that then look no further than the Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui. Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, the School is the brainchild of Donald Trott, who as a young man travelled the length and breadth of New Zealand to find tutors that could help him navigate the technicalities and demands of becoming a world class opera singer. Donald knew that the intensive tutoring style students received in international conservatoires was the key to giving young opera singers the very best opportunity for success, but no one in this country was offering that here. And so, like a good Kiwi, he decided to do something about it - and open an opera school.

Despite living for many years in Auckland and Wellington, Donald knew the perfect place to play home to his vision. “I was born and educated in Whanganui,” he says, “and I knew the people and the place and I knew how supportive it would be. I had also done some research and was very aware of the Wexford Opera Festival that had been started in Ireland in 1951.

Raising the roof during ‘Great Opera Moments’ 2023 at the Royal Whanganui Opera House

The Wexford Festival helped transform a ‘compromised community with a beautiful Opera House and a run-down river port’ into a resilient, vibrant community and I could see similarities with Whanganui.”

The dream was to create a place where international tutors and students could benefit from partnerships with the historic Royal Whanganui Opera House, the Whanganui River (awa), local iwi and the majestic Whanganui Collegiate School. It seemed a perfect fit, and with the encouragement of his long-time coach and accompanist Frances Wilson, who introduced the possibility of world famous soprano Virginia Zeani coming to teach, the scene was set. He approached venues, sounded out supporters and - with a due sense of trepidation - went to the bank to seek finance for an opera school.

“I was shown into an office to meet the manager seated behind a very large desk,” Donald says, “and when I told him what I wanted to do, there

was a very long pause! I expect he didn’t get that kind of enquiry very often.”

Nevertheless an overdraft facility was granted and the Aotearoa New Zealand Opera School was born. Today it continues to reside each January on the campus of the Whanganui Collegiate School, one of New Zealand’s oldest residential colleges, and continues to go from strength to strength. And the overdraft facility has never been used!

“The School now has an international standing and reputation,” says Donald. “It offers two weeks of intensive residential training to New Zealand students from leading professional international tutors and New Zealand based musicians, stage directors and language coaches, and from the outset, established international opera singers have taught at the School – it’s been overwhelming to see how many internationally renowned performers have come here, and how many of them have come back multiple times.”

The hustle and bustle of London Town Department Store; “Great Opera Moments” 2021

School alumni include renowned international tenor Pene Pati, soprano Amina Edris, Simon O’Neill, Madeleine Pierard, Phillip Rhodes, Samson Setu, Bianca Andrew, Amitai Pati and Stephen Diaz, but at its heart, everything about the School is still focused on the training of young New Zealanders. The school’s motto “Nihil tumultus, tantum opera” translates as ‘Minimum fuss, maximum work’, and that is the nature of the challenging opportunity it offers young singers.

One of the greatest opportunities the School offers the rest of us is Whanganui Opera Week, when a programme of six events in venues around the city entertain opera loving enthusiasts from all over New Zealand. From the spectacular Opera House to the Museum, to partnerships with local iwi from Pūtiki marae and up close and personal performances in restaurants and cafés, this is taking young up and coming singers to an audience and taking opera to the people. The 30th anniversary of Whanganui Opera Week will welcome 21 of New Zealand’s brightest young opera singers from the 7th to 21st January and it is not to be missed!

“This school was the dream for Whanganui,” says Donald. “Some of it has been achieved, and now it is time for the dream to be completed. The people of Whanganui have been immensely supportive, as I knew they would be, and for the upcoming Opera Week we have secured some of the world’s best, including Della Jones, Welsh mezzo-soprano and coach at the English National Opera Studio, Glenn Winslade, Opera Australia’s highly regarded technical voice coach from Opera, Sharolyn Kimmorley, world renowned repetiteur and vocal coach and Japanese born American soprano Nikki Li Hartliep who has performed and taught at conservatoires around the world, specifically in New York, San Francisco and Florida. The School is a team effort and I’m grateful to everyone who has walked alongside me over the last 30 years.”

The School is proudly supported by the Freemasons Foundation, Creative New Zealand, Whanganui & Partners and many private individuals among others - and Air Chathams is also proud to be a part of the festivities, so mark it in your calendar and start planning your trip today - it’s going to be a truly memorable birthday party!

The next generation of opera starsNZ Opera Studio Artists Recital with pianist Bruce Greenfield

New Zealand’s last Victorian Theatre, the majestic Royal Whanganui Opera House

Our fleet

Air Chathams has a fleet of 13 aircraft, ranging from single-engine light planes to turboprop passenger aircraft capable of speeds of over 500km/h. With this diverse fleet we can offer everything from scenic flights to charters, passenger services and freight.

ATR 72

Our newest regional airliner

Speed 500 kilometres per hour

Max Altitude 25,000 feet

Pressurised Cabin Yes

No. of Pilots 2

No. of Flight Attendants 2

No. of Seats 68

Inflight Catering Available

Toilet Yes

Saab 340

Our Swedish princess

Speed 470 kilometres per hour

Max Altitude 25,000 feet

Pressurised Cabin Yes

No. of Pilots 2

No. of Flight Attendants 1

No. of Seats 34

Inflight Catering Available

Toilet Yes

Douglas DC-3

Our pride and joy. This remarkable aircraft has certainly ‘been there and done that’.

Speed 240 kilometres per hour

Max Altitude 10,000 feet

Pressurised Cabin No

No. of Pilots 2

No. of Flight Attendants 1

No. of Seats 28

Inflight Catering Available Yes

Cessna 206

The Chatham Islands workhorse

Speed 230 kilometres per hour

Max Altitude 10,000 feet

Pressurised Cabin No

No. of Pilots 1

No. of Flight Attendants 0

No. of Seats 5

Inflight Catering No

Toilet No

The airline that brings New Zealand together

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