Air Chats Winter 2024

Air Chats

Experience paradise with a difference...

Set in 5 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the newly renovated South Pacific Resort is the largest and most conveniently located hotel on Norfolk Island. It will take just a brief walk to the main shopping township of Burnt Pine and only a short drive to historical Kingston, amazing Emily Bay and the Golf Course. The South Pacific Resort is perfect for relaxing and unwinding on your Norfolk Island holiday.

Kia ora tātou

Welcome to the Winter edition of the Air Chats Magazine.

The cooler months are upon us, and the days may be shorter, but winter is also a time of great celebration with Matariki, the very special occasion that marks the start of the Māori New Year.

Matariki is signified by a cluster of stars reappearing in our night sky, and is viewed as a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.

This is poignant for Air Chathams as we reflect on the past, present and future growth of both the airline services and the upgrade of aircraft on both our Whakatāne and Whanganui flight services.

It is also a time to prepare for connecting holiday makers with their dream Pacific get-away destinations like Norfolk Island from the 29th of August. Norfolk is not to be missed, so keep this great spring destination in mind and start planning your escape.

As we say goodbye to a hectic autumn, we can however reflect on some highlights, including flying a delegation around several island nations in the Pacific. Consisting of members from the United Nations, UNICEF, and the United States Congress, the delegation was interested in visiting these nations to see the effects of climate change first hand, as well as to hold high level meetings ahead of the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in Nuku’alofa later this year.

The Air Chathams crew were based in Fiji, flying the delegation on day trips to Tuvalu and Tonga. Our flagship ATR72-500 was the perfect aircraft for the mission, having the range to fly from Norfolk Island to Suva in one hop.

Into the present, and the winter months are also an opportunity for our Air Chathams team to get out in-person with our mainland communities of Whakatāne, Whanganui and the Kāpiti Coast - where we will be embarking on a promotional roadshow for new and potential customers called the ‘Tale of Two Islands’.

The promotional roadshow is to showcase inperson the unique cultures and breathtaking natural beauty of both Norfolk Island and the Chatham Islands. So, keep an eye out for future promotional information and dates on our Air Chathams website.

In closing, I hope you enjoy our eclectic collection of great articles from the destinations Air Chathams serves in this winter magazine’s offering - while flying to one of our destinations or taking one of our Air Chats magazines with you to explore while curled up warm on the sofa at home.

Ka kite anō and safe travels!

Duane Emeny, Chief Operating Officer

Each year Air Chathams carries more than 100,000 passengers around New Zealand, and in each edition of our inflight magazine Air Chats we celebrate the very best of the regions we cover: from art and culture, to business, history and lifestyle, Air Chats tells the stories of the people who make those places great. If you’d like to be a part of Air Chats, get in touch - the team would love to hear from you.

marketing@airchathams.co.nz airchathams.co.nz fb.com/airchathams @airchathams

Publisher Plenty Limited - airchats@plenty.co.nz

Editor/KaiwhakatikaTuhinga

Andy Taylor - info@plenty.co.nz

Design & Production/Kaiwhakatauira Sarah Lane - design@plenty.co.nz

Advertising Enquiries airchats@plenty.co.nz +64 (0)27 932 5515

Cover image

Green Moon Wrasse Thalassoma lutescens

Photographer Susan Prior - Norfolk Island

Air Chats is published by Plenty Limited on behalf of Air Chathams Limited. Copyright 2024 by Plenty Limited. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the prior consent of the publisher. Advertising statements and editorial opinions expressed in Air Chats do not necessarily reflect the views of Plenty Limited or Air Chathams Limited. ISSN 2624-4179 (print), ISSN 2624-4861 (digital).

AIR CHATS

WINTER/JUNE/2024

04

08

EVENTS/NEWS

The airline that brings New Zealand together.

DESIGN FOR LIFE

The Kōpī Bush Retreat is a design tour de force - and quite possibly your next getaway.

14 GUMFIELDS TO VINEYARDS

They came to dig gum, and stayed to found an industry; meet the Dalmatians who put Kiwi wine on the map.

20 SAFE AND SOUND

Filmmaker Mason Cade Packer’s new thriller was shot entirely in Kāpiti and is now set to tingle spines.

24 PRESERVING THE PAST

A grand old building in Whanganui bucks the trend and is saved from the wrecking ball.

30 BACK TO THE FUTURE

The Whakatāne Airport Terminal continues to amaze and astound, and long may that last.

36

UNDERWATER WONDER

Norfolk Island is not just stunningly beautiful, it’s also home to some truly stunning marine life.

42 THE MIGHTY KAIPARA

The Kaipara is our largest harbour, and also a perfect getaway to explore our past.

46

A DAY AT THE RACES

The Chatham Island Jockey Club is 150 years young - and we’re all invited to the party.

50

OUR FLEET

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

52

DESTINATIONS

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

News & Events

Bounty Day Celebrations

10 June 2024

Anniversary (Bounty) Day on the 8th of June celebrates the anniversary of the arrival of the Pitcairn Islanders to Norfolk Island. The Pitcairners were the descendants of the infamous English sailors of mutiny on the Bounty fame and the Tahitian women who, under their leader Fletcher Christian, began a new life on isolated Pitcairn Island. After outgrowing tiny Pitcairn the community relocated to Norfolk in 1856.

The celebrations are held in the World Heritage area of Kingston, which includes a re-enactment, parade, wreath laying, singing of hymns and a community picnic highlighting traditional food.

Grant Burge Pro-Am Golf Classic

23 August – 01 September 2024 www.norfolkisland.com.au/calendar-of-events

Play in paradise at Norfolk Island’s premier golf event! The perfect opportunity for professional and amateur golf enthusiasts alike to spend a week playing on one of the world’s most beautiful golf courses. This first class competition is also held at one of the world’s friendliest clubs and you’ll be in the running for a Professional prize pool of $17,500 and over $13,500 for Amateurs!

AUCKLAND

Teddy Swims - I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy Tour

06 July 2024

Spark Arena, Auckland www.ticketmaster.co.nz for more information

After capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide, vocal powerhouse and Atlanta singersongwriter Teddy Swims is thrilled to announce his muchanticipated return, following his previous two sold out tours.

Boasting a staggering 2.2 billion streams worldwide, Swims, along with his band Freak Freely, will deliver an unforgettable set of performances when he returns to play his biggest venues to date down under. The formidable singer’s rise continues its trajectory in 2024, with his single ‘Lose Control’ taking over airwaves and streaming platforms globally.

BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival

19 – 20 October 2024, Aotea Square & Queen Street www.aucklandnz.com/diwali

The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival, known as ‘The Festival of Lights’, draws over 100,000 attendees.

Since its inception in 2002, the festival has been a vibrant showcase, featuring traditional and contemporary music, dance, and stalls offering Indian delicacies and crafts.

Lights on Bikes

25 June 2024 6pm – 9:30pm www.discoverwhanganui.nz/guides/ lights-on-bikes

Lights on Bikes is returning with more amazing light installations, performances and the ever-popular bicycle parade. Gather your lights, decorate your wheels and yourselves and be a part of the brightest parade in town.

Bicycles, scooters, roller skates, wheelchairs, skateboards, prams, unicycles and many more wheeled contraptions are all welcome!

WHAKATĀNE

Chatham Islands and Science

13 – 18 August 2024 www.chathamislands.co.nz

Join locals and world-renowned scientists on scienceinspired events including talks, field visits and panel discussions. Topics include ecology, weather, geology, and the future of the environment. Speakers include geologist Hamish Campbell (GNS Science) and science historian David Johnston (Massey University).

Artists Retreat

30 September – 03 October 2024 www.chathamislands.co.nz/inspiring-islands-art-workshop

Come join our 2024 inaugural small group artists retreat – hosted by Hotel Chathams Tours and led by Chatham Island artists, we will take you to the most beautiful, ruggedly raw locations Chatham Island has to offer. Simply pack your art gear as everything else is included; return Air Chathams flights, accommodation, meals and transport but be prepared to have an amazing amount of fun.

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust Night WalksMokorua Bush Scenic Reserve

Friday nights until the 28 of June 2024 www.whakatanekiwi.org.nz/whats-on/night-walks

Come along and learn about our local kiwi population and the work being done by our amazing volunteers to protect our national icon and other native taonga. If you listen carefully you might even hear the call of kiwi or weka! Birds aren’t the only stars of the show though, you’ll also discover plant life, nocturnal creepy-crawlies like spiders, wētā and incredible glow-in-the-dark fungi!

Please be aware that it is very unlikely that you will see a wild kiwi on this walk - they tend to run a mile when they hear a dozen humans coming down the track! We offer both regular and children’s walks, so there is something for everyone!

Light up Whakatāne

26 July – 04 August 2024, Whakatāne Town Centre www.lightupwhakatane.com

Under the darkness of winter, Whakatāne’s annual festival will be held over ten nights with light activations and digital displays by both local and regional artists.

Art works will be installed in various locations encouraging visitors to walk amongst our parks through the town centre and along the riverside to enjoy and delight at the lighting and digital displays.

News & Events

KĀPITI COAST

Kāpiti Coast Arts Trail

02 – 03 and 09 – 10 November 2024 www.kapiticoastarttrail.co.nz

Every November the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail surprises and delights when a wonderland of artist studios, galleries and shared spaces are opened up to the public.

A self-guided tour of discovery that offers a glimpse into creative spaces across the district, this is an adventure in art that really deserves to be shared with friends.

This year weaver and sculptor Adrienne Spratt and her Waiorua Gallery on Kāpiti Island join the Trail for the first time.

Adrienne is a renown weaver using ancient Māori techniques to create exquisite muka (flax fibre) kete and harakeke patterned kete (whakairo).

Beautiful sculptural, wall and framed artworks are also created using these techniques, all in natural fibres collected and processed by hand.

This year you can enjoy the Trail over two weekends, 2/3 and 9/10 November 2024.

Whakatāne Kiwi Trust

+ Mata Brewery + Sam Poots

The Whakatāne Kiwi Trust in collaboration with Mata Brewery and local artist Sam Poots have teamed up to launch a beer to honour the New Zealand kiwi capital - and it’s called Kiwi Capital!

The beer is available on tap at Mata Brewery and in 440ml cans and the best part is that Mata will donate 8% of the proceeds directly to the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust! So stock up on Kiwi Capital, a nice cold beer, and help protect our national bird!

The little Kiwi’s Matariki

CAN YOU FEEL IT COMING? The little Kiwi can. Star of the award-winning picture book ‘The little Kiwi’s Matariki’, little Kiwi gathers her friends Weka, Ruru and mokopuna, Tūī and Katipō. They rush through the forest, over dunes, past pōhutukawa, and onto the beach just in time to watch Matariki rise in the dawn sky.

Written and illustrated by Eastern Bay of Plenty’s Nikki Slade Robinson, this story is strongly inspired by the native birds, bush and gorgeous beaches around Ōhiwa Harbour, between Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne.

Picture book creator Nikki has almost 20 titles as author-illustrator, and over 100 as illustrator, published in Aotearoa New Zealand and overseas. Her studio looks over native bush, but weka, kererū and fantail antics can be distracting! She’s just finished illustrating ‘There’s a Crab in my Castle’ by Dawn McMillan (of ‘I need a new bum’ fame), and recently released ‘Dinner with Grandpa’ by Gillian Torkler also features her illustrations. Now it’s back to the drawing board to start working on new story ideas....

When Nikki’s not creating, she’s involved with volunteer conservation work around Ōhiwa. To see more of Nikki’s work, visit her facebook Nikki Slade Robinson: Illustrator/Author.

Published by David Ling.

The Little Kiwi’s Matariki is available through all good book retail channels.

Design

for Life

When you think of the Chatham Islands you think of rugged, windswept coastlines, angry seas and tough, self-sufficient individuals battling the elements. All that is certainly true, but now there is also a softer, more luxurious side to the Chathams, it’s called the Kōpī Bush Retreat, and it’s the perfect way to experience the eastern-most part of Aotearoa New Zealand.

Chatham Islanders are used to challenges.

The Kōpī Bush Retreat is the brainchild of John and Bridget Preece, who built it on the 1200 acres of farmland that John inherited from his family, land that has been in the family for many generations. John, a commercial fisherman for 39 years, is of Moriori and Māori descent and is one of six siblings, three of whom now own the farmland and a nearby quarry. Bridget, a mainlander, spent 15 years in Napier educating their children as there are no secondary schools on the Chatham’s, but she is now back full time on the Island with her latest ‘child’ - the Retreat and the restoration of their bush and preservation of fish stocks for future generations.

Chatham Islands

Auckland

Tāmaki Makaurau

Wellington

Christchurch

John and Bridget had been living in an old schoolhouse - that John had actually gone to school in! - but the dream was to build a home that could also function as a retreat for visitors to relax, unwind and experience the Island. Given the remoteness of the location - there is no Mitre 10 just up the road on the Chathams - the construction of the building was always going to be a mission in itself, but Chatham Islanders are used to challenges. All construction materials had to be shipped in from New Zealand, and while family members did move back to help out, builders also had to be flown in from the mainland if the construction was going to be finished in the foreseeable future.

Add to the mix that this was no ordinary building with numerous custom features and advanced joinery and it was clear that this would be no ordinary build, and in fact it was such a huge undertaking that it was featured on the Grand Designs New Zealand television show.

And what a grand design it is! The home is fully off-grid but retains a sense of luxury and modernity that nestles in the impressive landscape. It is a bespoke design by noted Lyttleton architect Michael O’Sullivan, who has known John for many years. The standout feature is the sweeping, wing-like roofline that brings a sense of calm to the site, but the building is also sensitive to its surroundings, with three-metre-wide decks all around so that you can choose which side of the house to sit outside of to avoid that day’s wind! And if the exterior is stunning, the interior is equally impressive, featuring swaths of natural materials that give it added warmth and complement the fantastic views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Perhaps the best part of all this is that you can experience it firsthand! It’s not often that you can come and stay in a Grand Designs build, but the Kōpī Bush Retreat welcomes visitors year-round.

Help keep our islands unique by Checking your belongings for any contaminants BEFORE arriving in the Chatham Islands

BEFORE arriving on The Chathams... CHECK, CLEAN AND DRY

Footwear

Outdoor clothing

Dive gear • Camping and sports equipment

Contamination might include seeds in your socks and clothing, marine pests on dive gear, mud on boots or ants in your backpack. Please don’t bring animals, plant material, bees or raw comb honey, unless you have contacted a Chatham Islands Biosecurity O cer for advice first.

The interior is equally impressive, featuring swaths of natural materials that give it added warmth and complement the fantastic views through floor-to-ceiling windows.

For more information or advice please scan the QR code or contact a Chatham Islands Biosecurity O cer: Phone. 03 305 0013 robin.seymour@ecan.govt.nz jase.seymour@ecan.govt.nz

w.cic.govt.nz

All this great food and beauty inside the Retreat, it’s easy to forget that there is plenty to do outside.

Attention to detail is the main focus of the Retreat, ensuring your stay is comfortable, enjoyable and above all, memorable. Your time there can be uniquely tailored to your specific requests and preferences, but John and Bridget are keen to welcome guests to get involved in the daily life of the Retreat, collecting kai like seafood and mushrooms, and seeing first-hand how our food comes from the farm or sea onto our plates that night.

All meals are included in your stay at Kōpī Bush Retreat and are focused on using fresh local ingredients from the farm, the sea and the garden. Lunches are either packed for you to enjoy while exploring the local area, or prepared and served at the retreat, and all dinners are cooked for you by your hosts and at least one meal will focus on kai moana (seafood) prepared especially for you by a local chef. Degustation menus are also available on request for an extra charge.

With all this great food and beauty inside the Retreat, it’s easy to forget that there is plenty to do outside. John and Bridget can help organise fishing and diving trips, as well as tours of the Island by locals, and they can arrange rental cars so that you can use the Retreat as your base and get out and about in that rugged landscape on your own little adventure - safe in the knowledge that at the end of the day a warm welcome and great kai awaits!

WELLINGTON direct to the CHATHAM ISLANDS

Experience eight days in one of New Zealand's most remote and unique places. The Chatham Islands are the closest most New Zealanders can get to international travel without packing their passport.

All inclusive costing per person Ex Christchurch or Wellington SINGLE shared facilities .......................... $4,455

TOUR #53

(INCORPORATING THE 2024 FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE)

Tuesday, 13th August 2024

Depart Wellington 1:00pm Arrive 3:30pm (CI time)

Tuesday, 20th August 2024

Depart Chathams 8:30am Arrive Wellington 9:45am

Phone: (03) 249 8294

TOUR #56

Friday, 19th September 2024

Depart Wellington 1:00pm Arrive 3:30pm (CI time)

Friday, 26th September 2024

Depart Chathams 8:30am Arrive Wellington 9:45am

Email: chathamislandtours@gmail.com www.chatham islandtours.nz

TOUR #57

(INCORPORATING THE 2024 TRANSIT OF VENUS CELEBRATIONS)

Thursday, 17th October 2024

Depart Wellington 1:00pm Arrive 3:30pm (CI time)

Thursday, 24th October 2024

Depart Chathams 8:30am Arrive Wellington 9:35am

Make up your party now and take advantage of your preferred accommodation while availability lasts.

Gumfields to vineyards

One of the early Dalmatian settlers, Ivan Posinkovich, at Puhata Herekino transporting grapes.

WHEN WE THINK OF THE settling and development of colonial New Zealand, we generally look to the United Kingdom and the steady stream of migrants who came from there. There is, however, one group of migrants who are regularly overlooked in that narrative and yet have helped to build an industry that has probably been more influential in raising our international profile than any other; Dalmatians - and wine.

It’s hard to believe in 2024 that New Zealand’s award-winning wines were once referred to as ‘Dally Plonk’ and owe a sizeable debt to a region that most Kiwis can’t even find on a map. Dalmatia is an historical region of Croatia located on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea, and like much of Europe, it was stricken by conflict - particularly being seized by the Austro-Hungarian empire - and a struggling economy; driven by poverty and politics, many Dalmatians chose immigration.

“They were starving, with only small areas of farmland, largely on rock,” says Kaye Dragicevich, author of the Pioneer Dalmatian Settlers of the Far North. “It was very hard to support their families. With each new generation family plots became smaller as land was divided amongst the children. In the 1700s the Venetians exported nearly all the timber from the mountains taking it to Venice. Without the forest cover what little soil there was simply washed away. Also, the young men were being conscripted into the Austro-Hungarian army - the army of their occupier - so many of them left to avoid being called up. Some looked to the United States and South America as the lands of opportunity, others to Australia. New Zealand was considered a good option as they could dig for kauri gum with minimal outlay working together in groups and they didn’t have to learn English.

The Babich brothers in 1913 at Kaikino; standing are Joe and Stipe (Steve), sitting are Ivan, Jakov and Mate.

In the early decades of the New Zealand wine industry, flagons like these were standard fare. 100 years later, thankfully, it’s the 750ml glass bottle.

The Babich family are so dedicated to recording history that they turned old concrete vats into a unique wine library, featuring some of their oldest and most significant wines. One taking pride of place in this collection is the 1968 Pinotage Cabernet, the first of a new variety that they still make today.

80 years after he started making wine on the Northland gumfields, Josip’s sons created ‘The Patriarch’ label to honour their father, the founder of Babich Wines.

Many

Kiwi service men and women who had been sent to Europe were introduced to drinking wine there, and suddenly the concept of accompanying food with a bottle of wine instead of beer didn’t seem quite so strange.

Brothers Jack and Stipe Urlich crushing grapes around 1910-12.

“It was very hard work and particularly hard on them as they weren’t used to the cold and damp of the gum fields but couldn’t afford to go home till they had made some money. About 80% returned home, some returned to New Zealand several times. When the gum ran out, they looked to new opportunities, bought cheap land, they developed farms or, orchards and vineyards to make New Zealand their permanent home.”

One of those who stayed was Joe Babich. He had arrived in New Zealand in 1910 and immediately set to work digging gum, but the young Joe had no intention of being waist deep in clay for the rest of his life.

“My grandfather came out to join his brothers,” says David Babich, the CEO of Babich Wines. “He was just 14 and it was likely that he would be conscripted at 16, so it was basically a one-way ticket to avoid fighting for the AustroHungarian empire.”

“In wine regions in old Europe, if you wanted to drink wine then you had to make it yourself.”

An industry gets underway; the Srhoj Vineyard at Waihārara 1936.

1916 - Josip makes his first New Zealand wine, selling it in casks and bottles under the name Babich Brothers.

“In wine regions in old Europe, if you wanted to drink wine then you had to make it yourself. It wasn’t that it wasn’t for sale, it was that 80-90% of the population were poor, often subsistence farmers. Most of old Europe was like that - and that’s probably why most of old Europe was keen to get out of old Europe!”

“My grandfather would make a bit of money and use that to plant vines, then go back to digging gum while they established. Once he was making wine it was generally sold to other Croatians and Mediterraneans because New Zealand was very much a beer and whiskey

market in those days. So it was pretty tough for a good 30 years. I remember him saying that it was 26 years before they managed to take a single pound off the mortgage they’d taken out to buy the land!”

“Part of it was because there were restrictions on selling wine in those days - very much politically motivated. There was a thing called the ‘Two Gallon Rule’, which said you could only sell two gallons of wine to anyone! Of course, not everyone wanted to buy a twogallon jug, but I think the beer and whisky lobby made sure that law wasn’t changed until 1958.”

Peter, Joe and David Babich.

1960 - 1965 the Babich winery expands, with a growing emphasis on table wine production.

Laws were changing, and so were people’s tastes. Many Kiwi service men and women who had been sent to Europe were introduced to drinking wine there, and suddenly the concept of accompanying food with a bottle of wine instead of beer didn’t seem quite so strange; fortunately, Kiwi wines were more than able to match what had been sampled back on the continent.

“Right from the beginning there was a constant push to improve, to make wine that could compete with the imported stuff, and so when (noted wine writer) Jancis Robinson praised New Zealand Sauvignon in 1985 it helped kick off something of a boom which saw more and more Kiwis choosing to drink wine. It also put us on the international map, and from the late 80s exports really started to take off as new

world wines were rightly recognised as being of really great quality.”

The rest, as they say, is history. New Zealand is now generally the largest supplier of Sauvignon in most overseas markets and our wine industry was worth an incredible $3.3 billion last year. Not bad going for group of young Croatian menboys really - who just wanted to escape conscription in someone else’s army.

“My grandfather died in 1983 and I’ve always wondered what it would be like for him to see how his endeavours turned out. Close to the end of his life he did get to see our first exports rolling up the road in a 20ft container. It was headed to Europe, the old Europe he’d left 70 years earlier.”

The 100th Babich harvest in 2015.

SAFE AND SOUND

IT IS, QUITE FRANKLY, the stuff of nightmares: a school principal learns of the imminent arrival of an escaped convict who has a nasty habit of slipping into teenage girls rooms in the night, only to silently watch them sleep. That is, until last week, when the plot thickens... What follows is a creepy test of wills and relationships that threatens to tear a small town apart.

This twisting, character-driven plot might sound like the latest big budget Hollywood thriller, but in fact this is a film born and bred on the Kāpiti Coast, and shot entirely on location there by Kāpiti native Mason Cade Packer. Safe/Sound is Packer’s latest short film, though at 40 minutes it is more like a novella, and as an independent production he looked to his home town not just for locations but also for funding.

In what sounds like a movie in itself, Packer worked phones and contacts for weeks on end to secure half of the film’s $100,000 budget, reaching out to everyone from car dealers to the local funeral home. At Air Chathams we love that kind of Kiwi spirit, so we got onboard too, helping move cast and crew around the country; they say it takes a village, and in this case it took a village to make a scary movie.

“I’ve been making stuff here for years and want to keep coming back,” says Packer, who has done stints in Chicago and is currently Los Angeles-based. “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.”

Packer even convinced his old school, Kāpiti College, to come to the party and let him shoot the movie on their grounds, which would probably have sent shivers down the spine of any visiting Ministry of Education staff. But then, this was the school that also produced Peter Jackson and James Ashcroft, director of Coming Home in the Dark, so they clearly like to do things a little different.

“Kāpiti College is pretty out there,” Packer laughs, “the head of drama, Siobhan Malley, is incredible and the school has always embraced weird, often kinda gory, productions. So there was absolutely no problem shooting a twisted thriller there!”

“The whole ethos of Safe/Sound was to showcase what we could do on such a small budget,” Packer says. “$100,000 sounds like a lot, but in the world of filmmaking that’s miniscule. The real power came in our fantastic crew, both in front of and behind the camera, and when you have that you can achieve greater things than money can buy.”

The DIY, almost guerrilla, approach to filmmaking used to be a hallmark of Kiwi cinema, but that has almost completely disappeared as production goes increasingly indoors and onto computer hard drives, but it is a necessity Packer - and his crew - embraced.

“Rain plays a huge part of this film, it’s very atmospheric, and we looked back over the last six years of weather statistics to see what eight day window was most likely to have rain in the region” he says.

Mason Cade Packer on set.

“And then the whole week of shooting was perfectly sunny! But our production designer Dean Hudson put together a rain rig – pieces of wood and a hose from Mitre 10 – it worked a charm!”

What didn’t work quite so well was Packer taking the classic stage adage to ‘break a leg’ too literally on the night of the film’s local screening.

“We’d promised everyone who supported us that we would hold a premiere. Te Raukura Ki Kāpiti and Kāpiti College sponsored the event and hosted us for free, which was awesome. We went in to do test screenings earlier that day, I’m a perfectionist, so I wanted to make sure every seat had a clear view and the right audio levels... And when I went down to the front row I didn’t realise it dropped off into the orchestra pit - so basically just took a step into the dark, and straight down. So yeah, the drop was decent!”

The result was not a break but a snapped ligament (he notes the gnarly “pop” he heard when he hit the deck, which of course the horror director laughs at) so Packer was forced to attend the premiere in a wheelchair. Talk about making an entrance.

But you can’t keep a good man down and Packer is already looking to his next film, this time a full feature length outing.

“I’m kind of doubling down on the horror genre,” he says, “and also looking to come back to Kāpiti to shoot it. We’ve tested the local crews and atmosphere and ease of shooting here, so potentially it could come back. We wouldn’t be looking for money from the community again, but we know the resources are here, and after shooting for eight days straight in the middle of “winter”, what’s the difference in doing it two or three more times over?”

In the meantime, Safe/Sound could be coming to a screen near you, and you don’t want to miss this one.

The making of Safe/Sound.

The Johnston & Co. building, corner of Victoria Avenue and Taupo Quay, Whanganui in 1922. Alexander Turnbull records/44820753

PRESERVING THE PAST

~ Images supplied ~

With earthquake strengthening requirements becoming increasingly strict, it seems more and more of our heritage buildings are being abandoned or demolished. Which is why the recent renovation of the Johnston and Co. building in Whanganui makes for a nice change - and also proves it can be done!

The Johnston and Co. building was commissioned by a Mr John Johnston who arrived in Wellington from London in 1843. He would later become a member of the New Zealand Legislative Council and he used his enterprise and rare business ability to establish the well-known Wellington firm of Johnston and Co. in the mid-1840s with some associates, trading as a stock and station agency with England, New South Wales and other colonies. It imported wines and spirits and general merchandise, and was a prominent exporter of wool, flax, frozen and preserved meat, and produce. The firm also worked as shipping agents, and as insurance agents for, among others, National Fire and Marine Insurance

Company of New Zealand in Whanganui; needing a base for its Whanganui operations, Johnston and Co. opened premises there in 1878. Whanganui was a rapidly growing region and by 1914 the company had outgrown the original building and set about building a suitably grand brick building in Taupo Quay. The last brick was laid on 21 August 1914with a silver trowel no less!

Fast forward a century however and times had truly changed, with buildings like the Johnston and Co. falling into disuse and then disrepair. In addition to needing interior refitting for modern uses like IT cabling and air-conditioning, the real elephant in the room was earthquake strengthening. Post the Christchurch earthquake, tough new requirements meant that most people put restoring older commercial properties into the too hard basket, shuttered them up and started pondering demolition.

Dmytro Dizhur and Marta Giaretton are, however, not most people. Marta hails from Venice and Dmytro arrived from Ukraine 20 years ago, and they both know a thing or two about the preservation of old buildings having worked in that industry previously. When they saw the state the Johnston and Co. they knew they had to do something to preserve this important part of Whanganui’s past. “It was heartbreaking to see it sitting unused and unloved,” Marta says. “It was in an important location, kind of the gateway to Whanganui, and we immediately thought that we had to do something to show that such buildings could be not only saved but could come

back and play an important part in the community. Many people see the cost of strengthening and refurbishing as too high, but the cost of losing this part of our heritage is even higher I think.”

People were actually stopping to say how happy they were to see something being done to it.

And so, the pair - quite literally - rolled up their sleeves, purchased the building and got stuck in.

“We started by painting the facade - ourselves, with brushes! - and the reaction from everyone, from the Council to people passing in the street was so very positive. People were actually stopping to say how happy they were to see something being done to it. So many people have some sort of attachment to the building and were sad to see it being forgotten.”

“It was heartbreaking to see it sitting unused and unloved”.

COVID lockdowns threw an additional spanner in the works, building consent complications had to be overcome, and the aforementioned earthquake strengthening had to be dealt with, but - from painting to engineering and construction - the dynamic duo just kept on keeping on.

“Earthquake strengthening actually turns out to be a minimal part of what is involved in getting an old building up and running again,” says Marta. “I think people get a little too scared of it sometimes, and there are many modern materials and methods to make it easier. There are always ways to make it work, you just have to figure it out.”

The result of figuring it out is spectacular. A truly beautiful exterior has given back the Johnston and Co. building its status as a landmark, and the interior is a tour de force of combining modern finishes with traditional features.

Dmytro Dizhur and Marta Giaretton.

Whanganui

All the original construction and decorative details have been maintained as much as possible and restored to their original glory. The architectural charm of brickwork and beams have been retained to make New York-style loft apartments and an impressive penthouse up top. These are available for short-term stays on Airbnb, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in their upscale urban elegance. Additionally, prime retail and office spaces on the first level are currently open for lease for businesses looking to establish themselves in the vibrant heart of Whanganui, and - perhaps best of all! - a wine bar will be occupying the rear of building, looking out over the river.

“The enthusiasm of the Whanganui people in seeing this building’s journey to being restored

has been essential in finding the renewed energy to persist and complete the project and vision for the Johnston and Co. building,” Marta says. “And it has not just restored retail to the downtown, but because it has accommodation and commercial it is helping to bring people back into the central business district, and that is something we are especially proud of.”

In recognition of the amazing job Dmytro and Marta have done, in November 2023 the building was named in the Whanganui Regional Heritage Awards for its meticulous restoration; the building won the Supreme Award, the Public Realm - Saved and Restored Award, and the Seismic Award, a fitting tribute to how much can be achieved by rolling up your sleeves - and a light of hope for others across the country considering preserving our past.

Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau

COME AND DISCOVER

The City of Design

THE WONDERS OF NATURE ARE VERY MUCH FRONT AND CENTRE WHEN YOU FLY IN TO WHAKATĀNE. The lush oasis of Moutohorā Whale Island seems to float in the endless blue ocean, while the beaches stretch on forever into a beckoning coastline. And yet it is a very manmade structure that really catches the attention of first time visitors: the extraordinary Whakatāne Airport Terminal, a bold architectural statement harking back to a time when young Kiwi designers were breaking rules and pushing boundaries. Part medieval castle, part child’s playground, the terminal’s round windows and bright colours amaze some and astound others, but love it or loath it, one thing is certainyou will remember it.

Back to the Future

Opened in 1974, the terminal was the result of a partnership between the Whakatāne Borough and County councils, who wanted something to put the town on the map and capture the attention of the growing tourism sector. Air travel was becoming more affordable and Whakatāne saw itself as the perfect getaway for windswept residents of Wellington or stressed out escapees from Auckland, and a new airport terminal that made a bold statement was the perfect way to announce that they were open for business.

To make that statement they enlisted Roger Walker, the Wellington based architect who along with fellow designers like Ian Athfield were rebelling against what they saw as the banality and beigeness of contemporary Kiwi architecture.

“A kind of banality had crept in to New Zealand architecture,” says Paul Raven of Shelter Architects, who studied under and worked with some of the Young Turks from the 70s. And having designed the stunning new Taupō airport terminal, Paul also knows a thing or two about the challenges of working in that space. “There were, and still are, all sorts of conventions around design - doors have to be so far apart, ceilings have to be so high, windows have to be a certain shape - and the likes of Roger Walker rebelled against that established way of doing things. They were rebels with a cause, they wanted things to be different and to delight people rather than just be functional.”

A time when young Kiwi designers were breaking rules and pushing boundaries.

The new terminal would not just be unique in design but also in how it worked, being the first in New Zealand to incorporate the airport control tower into the terminal itself. Up until then the Whakatāne ‘control tower’ was in the form of a Ford Thames van (cunningly painted in black and white checkers to improve visibility in those pre-Hi-Vis days) that would drive out from Whakatāne to shepherd arriving and departing aircraft. The airport would also be unique in that passengers arriving at the main entrance could also instantly see their awaiting aircraft on the apron outside through large windowssomething of a rarity in those days.

Photo Claire House

Not everyone - and in particular the powers that be in Wellington - were quite so enamoured with Walker’s attempt to break the beige mould however. The Ministry of Works considered it ‘silly’ and wanted a design that could be more easily recognised as an airport (whatever that was), but the project found an unlikely champion in the form of local MP Percy Allen. As a Second World War veteran who had served in the Pacific and Europe and been wounded at El Alamein, it could have been expected that Allen would not have been a fan of all this modern malarky that tipped a nod to the - gasp - Japanese Metabolism movement of the 1960s.

Photo Claire House

The Ministry of Works considered it ‘silly’ and wanted a design that could be more easily recognised as an airport (whatever that was).

But Allen was, in addition to being passionate about Whakatāne, a man with a bit of vision and - most importantly - the Minister of Works. With his support the design was approved no doubt much to the consternation of the Ministry’s guardians of normality; the brave new world was coming to Whakatāne.

Construction began in 1972 and in May of 1974 the new terminal welcomed its first aircraft and passengers.

And from those very first flights it garnered both praise and condemnation from visitors and locals alike, some calling it ‘Disneyland’, others embracing the playful character, and one commentator describing it as the ‘essence of tourist architecture’, though it’s hard to tell whether that is a compliment or a criticism!

Over the years Walkers terminal has indeed grown into something of an icon for Whakatāne. As the Airport grew and visitor volumes increased, there was conjecture that the terminal was no longer fit for purpose and there was even talk of it being demolished and replaced. But in 2013 the terminal received a New Zealand Institute of Architects Enduring Architecture Award, and in 2019 it was designated a Category 1 Historic Place on the New Zealand Heritage list, so it’s future is secure. Thankfully, the Whakatāne Airport terminal will be around to amaze and astound for many years to come.

Underwater Wonder

Given its location in the vast Pacific Ocean it’s no wonder that Norfolk Island is famous for fishing – but switching your rod and reel for a camera is an even better way to explore the incredible marine diversity of this subtropical paradise. Just ask Susan Prior.

SUSAN HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING in the lagoons of Norfolk for over five years, building up a huge collection of breathtaking images that are not only pretty pictures, but are a valuable record of the marine life that populates the lagoons – as well as the challenges and changes they are facing.

Originally from the United Kingdom, Susan spent many years in Australia before moving to Norfolk in 1996. She was immediately taken by the beauty of the lagoons and the pleasure of a daily swim in them. A change of circumstances took her back to mainland Australia for several years but it was inevitable that she would return, and when retirement loomed she and her partner chose Norfolk for its natural beauty and a taste of the quiet life. The quiet life never quite materialised as she has been as busy as ever with numerous projects, and the one she is most passionate about is surveying and recording the lagoon’s marine life.

“It started when I returned to the island in 2018 and resumed my daily swim in the lagoons of Emily, Slaughter and Cemetery Bays,” Susan says. “When I returned to swimming there after a gap of almost twenty years, I did a bit of a double take. The reef wasn’t quite how I remembered it. A lot more algae, less coral, and fewer fish. But I really only had my memory to go on, and I freely admit that a memory can be flawed. So I grabbed a camera and began recording what I was seeing. It was then that I realised that there was very little research being done about Norfolk’s reef. It was still a bit of a frontier, although that has changed in recent years.”

Susan has become something of an advocate for the reef, championing its protection in the face of the many challenges it faces.

Susan dived in – pun intended –and after five years she has built up a huge body of work, including images, articles and blog posts, which she posts on her website www.norfolkislandreef.com.au.

But she has also become something of an advocate for the reef, championing its protection in the face of the many challenges it faces. In our modern world, even somewhere as remote as Norfolk Island can have issues with, for example, water quality.

“We now have reef researchers doing regular surveys on the health of the reef, which has given us some data to work with. While it’s a bit of a race against time to stop the reef from being damaged any further, it’s not all doom and gloom by any means! I really prefer to dwell on the fantastic biodiversity that we have here. We’re on the borderline of tropical and subtropical climate zones, so we see many different species in the one place. You can wade out from the beach, swim out 50 metres with nothing more than a mask and snorkel, to see some amazing marine life.”

Some of that marine life has proven to be as yet unrecorded. Susan has so far had the privilege of being the first to identify fourteen new species previously not recorded in Norfolk Island’s waters, but laughs off the suggestion she might get a fish named after her! She adds that a coral researcher estimates up to 30% of the island’s corals are as yet undescribed, as in new to science and unique to Norfolk Island.

We’re on the borderline of tropical and subtropical climate zones, so we see many different species in the one place.

About her photographs, she says, “It’s all about being in the right place at the right time and having patience.” It’s also refreshing to hear that her images are not taken using cripplingly expensive equipment. Instead she opts to use a simple Olympus underwater “point and shoot” for her stills, and a GoPro for video. As the results printed here show, it’s not about the price point of your camera, it’s about the skill of the person behind it.

The Mighty Kaipara

THE MIGHTY KAIPARA is not just the largest harbour in Aotearoa but also the Southern Hemisphere, and its history of logging and gum digging, shipwrecks, failed visions and lost settlements is the stuff of legend. Exploring that past - as well as the present of this little piece of paradise - is the perfect Auckland getaway.

Kaipara Harbour is in fact a drowned river valley system, which has alternated between forested rivers and flooded harbours for hundreds of thousands of years. To Māori it was a rich source of food - kai Moana from the ocean, produce from its rich soils, and birdlife from its dense forests. But that ocean could take life just as it supported it; the evershifting sandbanks and tides were treacherous, and according to oral tradition the ocean-going canoe Māhuhu voyaged from Hawaiki to New Zealand only to be overturned on the northern side of the entrance.

Early European settlers also learnt that Kaipara demanded respect. The first European ship to be wrecked there was the Aurora in 1840, and over the following decades so many more would be caught out - estimates range from between 43 to over a hundred - that the sandbanks would earn the eery nickname of The Graveyard.

But so many of the early settlers were willing to run the risk of Kaipara because of the riches it offered. In addition to the bounty of the sea, Kaipara’s hills were covered in kauri and with the burgeoning settlement of Auckland nearby, timber for building was in great demand. Logging got underway in the mid-1800s, and over the next one hundred years nearly 1,200,000 hectares of forest were harvested - and Kaipara boomed. Dargaville and Helensville were established, ports were built, and even tram lines were laid to carry the timber. The discovery that kauri gum was nearly worth its weight in gold brought another boom, with thousands of migrants enduring the wretched life of digging in the clay to find their fortune. The bonanza became so frenzied that, at one-point, public notices were posted in Helensville asking the locals to stop digging up the main street in search of gum!

Photo credit Jason Smith

All good things must come to an end though, and so it was with Kaipara’s boom. With the hills denuded of Kauri and the gum gone, the region experienced a marked reversal of fortunes. Numerous attempts to establish new industries were attempted, but all with mixed results. One would-be entrepreneur spent £12,000 on importing ostriches from South Africa, only to have a severe drought leave the birds starving; and our country’s first tobacco plantation was established at Pahi in 1882, only to fail as recession kicked in.

Early European settlers learnt that Kaipara demanded respect

It wasn’t just industry that faltered however. In the early 1860s the ‘Albertlanders’ began to arrive, non-conformist Protestants from the United Kingdom who had been sold the vision of an Antipodean utopia at what is now Port Albert (named after Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria). But the settlement was, to put it mildly, ill-conceived and over-optimistic, with more than half of the Albertlanders choosing to pursue opportunities in a growing Auckland rather than face a perilous journey to virtually an imaginary outpost of the Empire. And after months or years of breaking in dense bush many of those that did chance it gave up and moved elsewhere; the last large-scale organised settlement of New Zealand ended not with a bang, but a whimper.

Guardian of the harbour - the Kaipara North Head Lighthouse

Which is not to say that the mighty Kaipara is a footnote to history, because it is not. Now it is the golden sands of Kaipara Harbour that mix with cement to make the footpaths and driveways of new Auckland suburbs, just as it was the kauri from Kaipara’s hills that built that city’s villas and verandahs a hundred years ago. And just as the loggers and gum diggers flocked to Auckland to let off steam, now it is the turn of the city slickers to find some rest and recreation in the tranquility of Kaipara.

A great place to start your Kaipara adventure on your way up from the city is The Riverhead Tavern. The oldest riverside pub in the country at 160 years young, The Riverhead has hosted ‘countryfolk and townspeople, fishermen and farmers, smugglers and clergymen, marauding riders of the night through to social visits from the local constabulary’ so soak up the history - and enjoy the food!

Just up the road and you are in wine country, with the likes of Coopers Creek, Soljans Estate, and Kumeū River offering tasting rooms and cellar sales, and if you manage to make it through without deciding to linger a lot longer than planned, then you are on to Helensville and Kaipara proper. There are numerous nature walks, harbour cruises, and bike rides, but it’s not all about the great outdoors; try the

At one-point, public notices were posted in Helensville asking the locals to stop digging up the main street.

kilometre-long arts trail at the Kaipara Coast Sculpture Gardens, the grand scale sculptures up north at Gibbs Farm, or the Kaukapakapa Village Market (now relocated to Helensville due to flood damage). And if you have time on your hands there is still Dargaville to the north - but that’s probably another story.

Which brings us neatly to the one problem with Kaipara; it’s just so big it’s hard to know where to start and when to finish. So much more than a day trip, so spectacular, so rich in history - and so, so close to home.

A Day at the Races

The very first horse race meeting on Chatham Island/Wharekauri/Rekohu was held on Boxing Day 1865 and was organized by Thomas Ritchie and William Hunt. The first horses had arrived on the Island some 20 years earlier, and by the mid-1850s breeding mares were being imported from Sydney in payment for potato crops.

The Chatham Islands Jockey Club was officially established in 1874, making it the second oldest registered race club in New Zealand. The Club’s races are held over three days around Christmas time when the weather should be behaving

and extended families living off island are more likely to be home seeing loved ones and camping around Te Whanga Lagoon.

Waitangi township at this time is a flurry of trucks, trailers and four wheelers harnessing horses to the sides and training up and down Petre Bay beach with the “black rocks” being used as the 2km mark for trainers and jockeys. All going well and based on the commitment or availability of these trainers, late September usually boasts of the first sightings of horses heading to the beach.

Any local Chatham Islander driving over Waitangi bridge and down Terry’s Straight is aware of their inferiority on the road and keenly adjusts their driving to 15kms when passing by.

Times have changed over the past 150 years and without a doubt, more money and time are poured into new practices. Petrol and diesel are purchased while horse feed and essential equipment need to be freighted over to the island and stored accordingly.

In the busy, modern world where horses are no longer the main form of transport on the Island, the number of trainers and therefore “stables” fluctuates depending on only the most dedicated, who continue working to keep the former glory alive and provide the local Chatham Community with their highly anticipated entertainment during the summer holidays.

Photo by Robbie Lanauze

Children within the community have come to expect a day of hot chips and lolly scrambles

Subdivisions & Partitions

Boundary Identifications

Planning & Resource Management

Aerial Photography & Farm Mapping

Leases, Easements & Covenants

committed to a social day out, celebrating a warm island tradition.

December 31, 2024, marks 150 years since the establishment of the Jockey Club, who intend to pay tribute to an amazing legacy that has been passed down through the Chatham Island Community.

The Club welcomes anyone with a keen interest in racing to support and attend the 150th year anniversary celebration!

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

Our fleet

Air Chathams has a fleet of 11 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

Air Chathams is family owned and operated and is New Zealand’s largest privately owned airline, flying to some of the country’s best regional destinations. For more than 35 years we’ve been bringing New Zealand together.

Auckland

Whakatāne

Kāpiti Coast

Chatham Islands

Christchurch

Wellington

Whanganui

Norfolk Island

Whether it’s a family break, golf break or surfing a reef break... just take a break to Norfolk Island!

Flying direct from Auckland with Air Chathams from August 29th.