Air Chats
Kia ora tātou
Spring is at the door and Kiwis will be getting ready to shrug off winter and get out and about in our piece of paradise and to the Pacific get-aways beyond our shores. From the start of Spring, we see the commencement of our seasonal schedule to Norfolk Island. From Auckland to Kingstonfrom Kia ora to Watawieh - one easy flight with Air Chathams transports you to 36 km² of pure serenity, stories of mutineers and muskets, marine parks and gourmet menus. Norfolk Island really is a jewel of the Pacific, so if you’ve been toying with the idea of adventuring there now is the perfect time to make it a reality.
Of course, the other island group that shares a unique and diverse natural beauty is the Chathams archipelago, and the upcoming season is the perfect time to discover the land and seascapes, wildlife, culture, people and lively history that make the Chatham Islands and its people an absolute one of a kind.
And as I write this, Air Chathams has just completed two weeks of flying our Saab 340 in Tonga as Air Chathams goes global! Tonga’s Lulutai Airlines has leased the SAAB from us for three months, and the aircraft will serve the Kingdom as it has struggled with a long-standing flight crisis.
Remember if you are looking to travel with the Air Chathams whānau take advantage of our everyday affordable flights. The early bird gets the worm or in this case the best air fare deals so make sure you get in early.
We look forward to you sharing your journeys with us and in this spring edition of Air Chats we’re reciting a few good yarns from the destinations we serve - from tales of tall timber ships and bountiful fishing missions to vintage war planes that still soar the skies. Enjoy!
Ka kite anō and safe travels!
Duane Emeny, Chief Commercial 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
Climbing to the top of Phillip Island, credit Norfolk Island Tourism
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
SPRING/SEPTEMBER/2024
04 NEWS/EVENTS
The airline that brings New Zealand together.
08 TALL TALES, TALL SHIPS
A tall tale about pirates of the Pacific turns out to be true. 14
THE SWEETEST THING
Kāpiti Chocolate Factory: you may not know their name but you’ve probably been loving their chocolate.
20 A VERY GOOD THING
Whanganui’s Sarjeant Gallery reopens its doors after renovation and expansion.
26
ACES HIGH
Our Chief Pilot Blair Sims’ passion for flight extends beyond his day job – and back 100 years.
30 THE BROTHERS KORA
Whakatāne’s musical dynasty goes from strength to strength, on stage and screen. 34 BACK FROM THE BRINK
Once barren and bare, Phillip Island is a shining example of how an ecosystem can be saved.
40 CHATHAM ISLANDS FISHIN’ MISSION
Join The Lateral Lines boys as they hit the Chathams for a YouTube extravaganza!
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.
News Events &
Fest of Cultural Unity
Saturday, 02 November 2024, 98 Victoria Avenue, Whanganui www.facebook.com/festofculturalunity
Whanganui’s beloved Festival of Cultural Unity is making its way back to Majestic Square.
After a long wait, Whanganui’s much-loved Fest of Cultural Unity is returning to Majestic Square to dazzle eyes, ears and tastebuds. Presented by Born & Raised Pasifika, with support from Mainstreet Whanganui and a team of committed volunteers, the Fest has existed in one form or another for more than a decade now and has grown to be a real highlight of the local events calendar.
Council announces Heritage Festival to celebrate city centenary
19 – 28 October 2024
Whanganui District Council, in conjunction with the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust, is gearing up to commemorate a significant milestone in Whanganui’s history – 100 years since Whanganui was declared a city.
Experience the magic of Whanganui as we celebrate a century of cityhood! From October 19 to October 28, join us for a ten-day extravaganza commemorating 100 years since Whanganui was declared a city. Whanganui was granted city status in 1924, making it the first new city in New Zealand in fifty years.
WHAKATĀNE
The perfect adventure E-bike
A mastermind of the modern e-bike, Whakatāne-based Anthony Clyde is one step closer to the perfect adventure e-bike, combining hardiness, good looks and comfort in a way the international e-bike design community previously thought impossible. And it’s not just Anthony who believes in this groundbreaking achievement. The bike recently picked up a design award at a major international Trade Fair in Shanghai and back home Consumer Magazine NZ has given it their top tick of approval with a Highly Recommend rating.
Lodestone Energy’s second solar farm now fully operational
Lodestone Energy, New Zealand’s leading solar generation company, is continuing to deliver new renewable energy at pace with its second utility scale solar farm, Rangitāiki, now producing power in the Bay of Plenty region.
Located a few kilometres from Edgecumbe, the site’s official name, Rangitāiki, was gifted by Ngāti Awa. Rangitāiki is associated with both the plains and river, with strong meaning to most Iwi within the rohe.
CHATHAM ISLANDS
Celebrating 150 years of scientific collaboration between US and New Zealand
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the observation on Chatham Island of the Transit of Venus in 1874. This was the first formal scientific collaboration between America and New Zealand, and Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa, Massey University and the Chatham Islands Museum are working with Universities New Zealand to celebrate the event.
The Transit of Venus is a rare occurrence where Venus passes in front of the Sun and becomes visible to human eyes in the form of a small dot, and in the past they have been used to determine the size of our solar system.
The Chatham Islands Museum with Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University will also stage a photographic exhibition in October to mark the anniversary.
Photo credit: New Zealand Geographic / A still image of Venus passing the face of the Sun.
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.
Kāpiti Food Fair –November!
Saturday, 30 November 2024
www.kapitifoodfair.co.nz
An iconic food and beverage pop-up extravaganza that makes a lasting impression in the minds and bodies of all foodies. Exciting, delectable, and indulgent foodie festive day out with / GOOD friends, GOOD times, GOOD food, GOOD music!
Countdown to Kāpiti Half Run the Coast!
Sunday, 10 November 2024
www.kapitihalf.co.nz
Explore the stunning Kāpiti Coast for a running festival including a 21km half marathon, 10km, 5km plus bring the kids for our kick it kids 2k.
Set on the beautiful coastal roads and river trails, a 30 minutes from Wellington CBD, all the runs are based in the heart of Paraparaumu Beach overlooked by the magnificent Kāpiti Island.
Using a combination of road and hard packed gravel this course is fast, flat and beautiful. You will enjoy river trails, tree lined streets, lakes and the stunning Waikanae Estuary boardwalk. 30 minute drive from Wellington with great public transport links, this is the ultimate destination run. Finish on the beautiful beach side park and celebrate your efforts with friends and family. Make the most of your stay by enjoying all that Kāpiti has to offer.
NORFOLK ISLAND AUCKLAND
Thanksgiving Day on Norfolk Island Wednesday, 27 November 2024: Thanksgiving Day Public Holiday www.facebook.com/norfolkislandtourism
Did you know Norfolk Island is one of the few places outside of America to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, a legacy from the American whaling ships, which would make frequent stops to the island during the late 1800’s.
They brought with them American style recipes like pumpkin pie and cornbread. The day is celebrated by attending Church services and enjoying a traditional lunch with family and friends.
Iron Maiden - The Future Past Tour 2024
Kiwi metal fans are in for a treat as Iron Maiden follow up shows across Europe, in Western Canada and at the recent PowerTrip Festival in California, by bringing The Future Past Tour to New Zealand next year. This will be the first return to New Zealand since the band touched down on Ed Force One for their 2016-17 The Book of Souls Tour.
Special guests for The Future Past Tour New Zealand show are American metallers Killswitch Engage. 16 September 2024 Auckland. Tickets through Ticketmaster NZ.
Coldplay Music Of The Spheres World Tour 2024
Following the spectacular sellout success of two Perth Optus Stadium shows, Coldplay have announced New Zealand dates that will mean Kiwi fans don’t have to jump the ditch. The NZ tour is part of their recordbreaking Music Of The Spheres World Tour and will see the band perform in Auckland for the first time since 2016 over three nights from 13-16 November. Tickets through Ticketmaster NZ.
Illustrations
Brent
Condon
ON A COLD DAY IN 1829
a worn and battered ship arrived unannounced at Chatham Island; no one had known she was coming, and soon all on the Island would want her gone. She was the brig Cyprus, once a fine two-masted vessel launched in Sunderland, England in 1816, but the ship that arrived that day was a shadow of her former self. Chatham Islanders reported that her sails were ripped, her rigging in tatters and parts of her upper deck appeared damaged or dismantled. This was a ship that did not look like the usual whalers that called, and her captain was not handling her like one, but then the Cyprus - as the Chathams were about to find out and as the rest of the world is still
discovering to this day - was no ordinary ship and her master no ordinary man.
Cyprus first sailed the ocean waves on a regular route from England to the Baltic, but in 1825 she was brought to warmer climates, running between Sydney and Hobart; just a year later she was carrying convicts in the service of the Australian Governor. In 1828 a Lieutenant Carew was overseeing a ‘cargo’ of just over 30 convicts and their families with 14 troopers when Cyprus anchored in Recherche Bay in southeastern Tasmania to escape a storm. With the storm blowing itself out, Carew and some of his menremarkably - went fishing, and returned to find the ship in the hands of the convicts and quite ably led by one William Swallow.
Swallow is a character that only the early 1800s could produce. He was known by various aliases and arrived in the Australian penal colonies in 1821, charged with the heinous crime of stealing a quilt. He soon absconded and made his way back to England where he upped his game from bedding and instead plundered ships and stole sheep. This earned him another deportation - and saw him aboard the Cyprus on that fateful day in Recherche Bay.
The rebellious convicts left the hapless fishing party and some of their fellows and family members who were not up to the adventure behind, and set off south, aiming to get as far away from England as possible. With a largely untrained crew - Swallow was the only able seaman - it must have been a hair-raising voyage, but they made it to New Zealand and then on to the Chathams for that rendezvous in 1829. Even in a community used to seeing what the ocean threw up, the Cyprus was a spectacle - a spectacle that quickly relieved another ship, the Samuel, of her cargo of seal skins, essentially cleaning out that crew of a season’s toil. The
convicts - now essentially pirates - also managed to make themselves unwelcome to the fairly rough and tumble local population of that time, and with nothing to the south but ice, Swallow instead turned the ship north.
They set out for Tahiti, the preferred destination of most of the Pacific’s wastrels, but ended up in Tonga. Some of the crew jumped ship there, but Swallow was just getting started and headed north. What happened next was for many years open to conjecture; according to Swallow the Cyprus reached Japan, at a time when that country’s isolationist policy spelt death to foreigners. The Cyprus supposedly arrived desperately short of water and provisions, anchored over and began a bizarre interaction with the locals, who marvelled at the smoking of pipes, the keeping of dogs as pets and the way the sailors spoke, which they described as being like birds twittering.
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Taura hono tangata, taura here whenua When land connects us
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Following a trial, two of the mutineers went to the gallows at Execution Dock, London in December 1830, becoming the last men to be hanged for piracy in Britain.
William Swallow was not one of them. Ever the survivor, he convinced the court that as the only capable seaman he had been forced to follow the wishes of the mutineers, and amazingly he escaped the gallows. He couldn’t escape the charge of fleeing custody and not remaining with the other innocents in Recherche Bay however, so was once again deported, to the notorious Port Arthur where he died of consumption just four years later in 1834 aged 42. He is buried in an anonymous grave.
And for nearly 200 years the fantastical tale of the Cyprus’s Japan sojourn was buried with him, until some amateur sleuthing of Japanese historical records turned up an account of a ship crewed by ‘barbarians’ that arrived in Shikoku in 1830.
The last men to be hanged for piracy in Britain.
The accounts were based on the reports of samurai who had disguised themselves as fishermen to board the ship on spying missions, and incredibly they corroborate - in uncanny detail - the version given by Swallow all those years ago. There were even watercolours of the ship, looking exactly like the Cyprus, and of things like the ship’s master, its dog, and - best of all - a gift given by the barbarians to the locals: a boomerang.
So William Swallow, it seems, was not a fantasist after all. He had journeyed across the globe, both in chains and as the captain of a ship taken from his jailors, he had seen the very end of the empire and he had gone where few westerners dared to go and lived to tell the tale. Sadly, it is only now that we believe him.
Help keep our islands unique by Checking your belongings for any contaminants BEFORE arriving in the Chatham Islands
BEFORE arriving on The Chathams...
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.
BRENT CONDON
- Our head of Sales and Marketing Brent Condon is not just a passionate member of the Air Chats team but a keen fisherman, a loyal Westie, and a talented illustrator. So when we needed someone to come up with some graphics for our story on the Cyprus pirates we knew who to go to.
You can find out more about his work at instagram.com/brent.condon
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
“You’d be surprised about the things we’ve been asked to turn in to chocolate!”
The Sweetest Thing
You may not recognise the name Kāpiti Chocolate Factory, but you’ve probably been enjoying their smooth chocolaty goodness for years without even knowing it. Established more than three decades ago by a Featherson local keen to see if she could make some chocolates as good as the ones her hubby had brought back from Europe, the company has grown out of the kitchen and into an established company that makes chocolate confections that are so good they’re used by other brands. Known as ‘contract manufacturing’ this sees Kāpiti Chocolate Factory chocolate used in the likes of icecream, or in combination with other food producers such as Dark Horse to make coffee chocolate. Even better though, they can whip up short or long run made-toorder chocolate specialities for events, expos, businesses, or that special corporate occasion.
The company was originally named Nyco Chocolates by Featherston’s Lenore Nysse. The first customers were found at local markets, but the company moved to Kāpiti in 1992 and grew so strongly that it was soon producing for companies like the venerable Farmers and onceubiquitous Deka (who boasted a whopping 90 stores in its heyday). That is pretty good going for a little start up that used to test new products on friends and family, and production was then ramped up to a seven-day-a-week operation. By 2014 the owners’ circumstances had changed however, and the company was bought and run remotely for a year by a new owner who had a much more artisan approach. Then, in 2018, it was listed on Trademe, looking for a new owner and someone to give it the love it deserved.
Enter Sarah and James Abaniel. The couple and their two young children were running a Wellington based business, at least that was until James announced that he’d seen a chocolate factory in Kāpiti for sale on Trademe and that
they should go check it out. More on a whim and sense of adventure than a fierce determination to own a new business, they duly did check it out, and - officially making them the Best Parents Ever (TM) - they bought the company.
“Yes, the kids do love telling their friends that their Mum and Dad own a chocolate factorythough I’m not sure if anyone really believes them!” says Sarah, who now oversees the running of the business. “We didn’t really have any experience in chocolate - other than enjoying eating it! - but it seemed like a great project, a real adventure. We really felt the company had to stay in Kāpiti, that was where it belonged, and the Kāpiti community is just great to be a part of. There’s so much cool stuff going on.”
Sarah Abaniel of the Kāpiti Chocolate Factory with another happy customer.
Sarah and James rebranded the company as the Kāpiti Chocolate Factory and set about rebuilding after all the upheaval since 2014. They focussed on growing the commercial contract work and things were going well until COVID reared its ugly head and their tourism and hospitality clients suddenly had no customers for souvenir chocolates.
Failure was not an option though, and like a lot of other truly business-minded entrepreneurs at the time the couple did a ‘COVID pivot’ and set out to increase their brand presence by selling chocolate under their own name and increasing their direct-toconsumer online presence.
In line with this, in September 2020 they purchased Kako Chocolates, which brings artisan and embossed chocolates to the Kāpiti stable, meaning they can produce boutique chocolates embossed with a company (or personal!) logo, in matching branded packaging. And because the company has hundreds of different moulds to choose from, you can have almost any size and shape you want, with almost any flavours and fillings you fancy.
“The kids do love telling their friends that their Mum and Dad own a chocolate factory”
“You’d be surprised about the things we’ve been asked to turn in to chocolate! A common one - that doesn’t really work! - is protein powder, and um, let’s call them adult-themed chocolates! But also things like aniseed, feijoa, kūmara powder - all sorts of things. We don’t make our own chocolate from the bean, we take that in from New Zealand or Australian or Belgian manufacturers who use beans predominantly from the Ivory Coast or South America. This gives us a real flexibility to find what suits our customers.”
As COVID pivots go, this has been one of the better ones; the company now has six full time staff plus part-timers in the factory shop, and turns out a whopping 15 tonnes of chocolates each year.
Thankfully, you don’t have to be a corporate customer to get in on the action. The company has their factory shop in Raumati Beach, which offers not only sales but tasting, a chocolate making demonstration, and info on the history of chocolate. It’s best to book in advance for this, but at just $10 per person it’s perfectly suited for everyone from the young and excited, through to the mature and interested (and who should frankly know better). And if you want to indulge from the comfort of the couch, check out kakochocolate.co.nz - nougat, Dilmah infused treats, toffee almond clusters, hokey pokey, toffee gift boxes, and so much more.
Which all just proves there’s always a perfect way to say it with chocolate, no matter how big or how small you are.
A very good thing
More than 100 years after first opening its doors, and some 25 years after the concept of a full renovation and expansion was mooted, Whanganui’s Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery will once again be welcoming visitors from November this year. Good things take time so the saying goes - and this is going to be a very, very good thing.
The Gallery’s story begins in 1912, when its namesake Henry Sarjeant bequeathed a sum of money to establish a gallery to act “as a means of inspiration for ourselves and those who come after us.” Sarjeant had emigrated
from the United Kingdom in the late 1850s and soon established himself as a successful farmer, but he was also passionate about the arts and visited many of Europe’s major galleries and museums.
Images supplied by Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui
The Gallery opened in 1919, to a world reeling from war and influenza, in a country that often struggled to recognise the importance of the arts, particularly art that did not originate in Mother England.
Sarjeant’s vision at that time was groundbreaking and his legacy - together with those that have subsequently supported it - is arguably one of the best provincial galleries in New Zealand. It is home to a collection of approximately 8,000 works of New Zealand and international art spanning 400 years, including an internationally significant photographic collection and the largest holding of paintings by the New Zealand modernist Edith Collier.
It is the size and importance of that collection that was a key driver for the Gallery’s renovation and expansion. “The idea of expanding the Gallery actually goes way, way back,” says Gallery Director Andrew Clifford. “The original architect Edmund Anscombe revisited Whanganui in the 1940s and said then that he thought it was time for an extension! He felt there was a need for more space, to expand the back of the building and provide a space for events - and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
“Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery is home to a really unique and substantial collection of national significance, and making space for that has been a key driver of the redevelopment project.
The Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui opened in 1919 and is recognised as one of the country’s most important heritage buildings, (photo before renovations). Mount Ruapehu in the background. Credit Leigh Mitchell-Anyon.
“It’s really been about building on the vision of all those that came before us and telling the stories of where we live.”
The refurbishment of the Gallery has certainly proven the old adage that we are stronger together. Since work began in 2020, many hands have helped to create a new space that serves not only as a more fitting home for the collection, but also as another valuable mustsee destination alongside other major North Island arts institutions such as Te Papa in Wellington and the Auckland Art Gallery. But then, Whanganui has always had a vibrant arts scene that punches well above its weight.
“This relates to the story of how galleries and museums have evolved over the years and how, after a hundred years, exhibition-making has transformed significantly, necessitating a modernisation of buildings to meet contemporary standards for collection storage and display. We’ve had incredible grassroots support for this, from people donating five dollar instalments to larger support from patrons alongside central and local government; we’ve worked closely with mana whenua, particularly on the new extension, Te Pātaka o Tā Te Atawhai Archie John Taiaroa, where we worked together in a co-design process.
The Gallery opened in 1919, to a world reeling from war and influenza
Frank Denton, The Sarjeant Gallery 1926, black and white photograph. Collection of the Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua
A cruise with PS Waimarie is an authentic way to experience Te Awa Tupua –Whanganui River
“An unofficial time capsule left by the original clerk of works was found.”
One of the great tales of the redevelopment is a kind of an underdog story in itself. When the Gallery was first envisioned, a competition was held to select the architect; the winning design was submitted by the firm of the aforementioned Edmund Anscombe, but rumours soon swirled that the design was in fact completed by a young clerk in Anscombe’s office named Donald Hosie. But before Hosie could get the recognition he so rightly deserved, the 1914-18 war intervened. Hosie enlisted - and sadly never returned - leaving his employer Anscombe to enjoy the credit.
time
the light of day.
Nestled in the iconic 1914 'Johnston and Co.' building, our family invites you to relax in our beautiful apartments situated in the vibrant heart of historic Whanganui.
Winner of the 2023 Whanganui Regional Heritage Supreme Award for its meticulous restoration.
Stunning heritage alongside contemporary comforts and sleek architectural finishes.
YOUR UNFORGETTABLE STAY IN OUR TREASURED PIECE OF WHANGANUI'S HERITAGE AWAITS!
The mysterious
capsule; 102 years old and finally seeing
Photo Bevan Conley.
A Luxury Gateaway Experience in historic Whanganui
Until now that is. “One of the other key drivers of the project was earthquake strengthening,” says Andrew, “and in the process of drilling through the building an unofficial time capsule left by the original clerk of works was found. It had photographs, postcards from his sons at the front, newspaper clippings and a hand written note that said - without directly spelling it out - that the writer hoped that the “vexed question as to who is really the designer of this building will have been settled” by the time the capsule was discovered, and that the right person would get the acknowledgement they deserved for the design. It’s pretty clear they were referring to Donald Hosie the actual designer of the building, and it’s wonderful that the note has now seen the light of day.”
It’s also reassuring to know that the earthquake strengthening means the Gallery will be around for another hundred years at least and can continue to serve future generations as per Henry’s original vision. “Prior to the redevelopment project,” says Andrew, “we did have some ceiling masonry come down.
Whanganui has always had a vibrant arts scene that punches well above its weight.
When staff came in in the morning they found a chunk of plaster had fallen and actually hit a carved marble bust of Henry Sarjeant on the shoulder! It was kind of like the building was telling Henry himself that it’s time to go. So we had to leave in a more hasty fashion than planned - and are very much looking forward to being back in the building.”
From November you too can get back in the building. Check the Gallery’s website for a host of events marking the return of this iconic building - there’s never been a better time to visit.
ACES
Chief Pilot Blair Sims may be a relative newcomer to the Air Chathams family, having joined the team just over a year ago, but he brings with him years of experience – and a real passion for flight.
Blair started out racing bicycles, graduated to racing motorbikes, and then the flying bug bit. He qualified in Palmerston North – where he met his future wife, also a pilot! – and then spent 13 years flying Boeing 737s around the southern Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, before joining Air Chathams and taking up steering our Saabs around the regions.
Blair’s passion for flying goes back to even further than his teens though, in fact it goes back to before he was born! A dedicated member of the Ardmore Warbirds Association, Blair also takes to the skies in classic aircraft ranging from a Harvard T6, popularly known as ‘The Pilot Maker’, to a
replica Fokker DR1, aka the Red Baron’s Triplane. Make no mistake, this is a man with a real love of flying.
“The Warbirds Association is all about keeping pieces of history in the air,” Blair says. “It’s a group of similarly minded enthusiasts who want as many people as possible to be enjoying these machines for as long as possible, so we try to get the relevant aircraft out to things like ANZAC Day or the D-Day commemorations. But we also get out to shows in association with clubs around the country, from Tauranga to Masterton and Omaka, so that as many people as possible get to share in the experience.”
Right, Blair Sims in the Harvard ‘Pilot Maker’; below top to bottom, inside Ardmore’s Hangar 2, a P40 Kittyhawk, which has sadly now left our shores, and the Fokker DR1 Triplane.
“The air show just gets bigger and bigger . . . It’s a cool bunch of people with a real passion.”
The Warbirds Association is nestled at the foothills of the Waiora Valley, just south of Auckland, and is well worth a visit for anyone with even a passing interest in aviation and history. You can get up close and personal with a huge variety of operational and static aircraft, with a truly impressive roster including a Spitfire, a Tiger Moth, a Mustang, and even an ex-RNZAF Skyhawk among much, much more. You can also explore squadron histories, dioramas, static engine displays and memorabilia collections, and there is an air show every year that is a genuine spectacle.
“The air show just gets bigger and bigger,” says Blair. “It’s a cool bunch of people with a real passion, and I get to fly the little Fokker Triplane which is a real treat. It’s actually a replica as none of the originals from World War I still exist and it was kindly donated to the Association by Reg Field who is one of the Warbirds benefactors. And even though it’s a replica you’re still being entrusted to fly a piece of history.”
Blair is also looking forward to flying Air Chathams’ very own piece of history, the venerable DC3. “The DC3 has such a distinctive, loud drone from those big Pratt and Whitney engines, and we’re really hoping to drive the DC3 project forward this year and let as many people experience it while it is still able to fly. Sadly there will come a time when parts may not be available but until then we want as many Kiwis as possible to see what it was like to fly back in that golden age.”
But until the DC3 is back in our skies, Blair is more than happy with the day job.
“The great thing about Air Chathams is the people,” he says. “I know that can sound a bit of a cliché, but it really is true. We have a very diverse team, the young and the old and the in-between, from a variety of backgrounds, and it’s great to be a part of that family with a shared vision, particularly when you see just how crucial an air service is to the regions - and not just to places like the Chatham Islands, but Whakatāne, Kāpiti, Whanganui, all those parts of the New Zealand heartland that we love flying to. We say we’re the airline that connects kiwis, and you can’t beat being a part of that.”
“The great thing about Air Chathams is the people. I know that can sound a bit of a cliché, but it really is true”
The Brothers Kora
WHEN IT COMES TO MUSICAL GENIUS,
it seems that big things come out of small towns.
Te Awamutu, for example, produced national treasures Neil and Tim Finn, but Whakatāne has arguably an even bigger claim to fame; the sometime sunshine capital of New Zealand is home to a creative juggernaut that has produced the soundtracks to our summers for years: the brothers Kora.
Brad, Laughton, Francis and Stuart have helped give us – in addition to Kora, the band that bears their name – the wildly popular L.A.B, the groundbreaking Modern Māori Quartet, standout appearances on stage with the likes of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and turns on the big screen in The Pā Boys. Oh, and one of them even sang on Kim Dotcom’s album. Keeping track of the multiple creative threads that weave through the Kora story can make your head spin.
None of this is surprising given that the brothers were raised in a family where music was ever present – and that they were on stage before they made it to high school.
Together with father Tait Kora, various combinations of the brothers made up a family covers band that played pubs and RSAs and cossie clubs around the eastern Bay of Plenty.
“We all have the work ethic, we got that from a young age from the old fulla”
“We’d be on stage from about six or seven and usually play Ōpōtiki on Wednesday and Thursday nights and Whakatāne on Friday and Saturday nights,” Brad Kora recalls.
“We (the brothers) were all underage but no one seemed to care in those days! You’d never get away with it today. By the time we were like 12 or 14 we knew a couple of hundred songs, and if we weren’t playing, we were rehearsing, mostly up to six hours a day. Dad was a hard taskmaster and real old school – if we stuffed up, we’d get a whack with a ruler! But man we learnt our stuff and it kinda made us perfectionists and hard taskmasters – at least that’s what quite a few musicians we’ve tried to work with say!”
“We must have played The Comm a hundred times. We were all underage but no one seemed to care in those days!”
Brad Kora at the original Commercial Hotel in Whakatāne:
Photo Andy Taylor, Plenty Magazine
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Their first band was called Zig Zag and featured father Tait as well as Aunty Sheree on keyboards. Then, at school, the brothers formed the eclectically titled Aunty Beatrice and, with the help of Whakatāne High School music teacher Tom Bayliss, won the Smokefree Rockquest with Mince Pie, a song they’d written about hanging out during lunch hour and sharing, um, pies. Aunty Beatrice then went on to win the Battle of the Bands three years running and not only a few people felt that these boys were bound for big things. And they were not wrong.
Kora – the band – came to be in 2002 when Laughton and Fran were both impoverished students at Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School, studying theatre and dance and playing in restaurants for food. They were noticed by a member of Fat Freddy’s Drop and the offer of a gig resulted in them throwing together a literal ‘band of brothers’ for their first live performance, which just happed to be in front of 11,000 people. An album – recorded in an Edgecumbe cowshed naturally – followed and stayed in the Top 20 for 51 weeks, while the band simultaneously built a solid rep as a seriously good live act.
Laughton and Brad left the band in 2013, with the former concentrating on theatre and work as a musical director, while Brad drums in L.A.B with Stu, and Fran is up front and centre with the Modern Māori Quartet (as well as
appearing in the aforementioned Pā Boys). The side projects – Brad for example somehow finds time to run a gym in Whakatāne – are simply too numerous to mention!
“I think we’re all the same but different!” Brad says. “We all have the work ethic, we got that from a young age from the old fulla, but then we also all have strengths of our own. And I guess that is why we have gone in different directions while also all ending up in the entertainment business in one way or another.”
Keeping track of the multiple creative threads that weave through the Kora story can make your head spin.
And though the brothers remain close, anyone with a brother or sister knows that sibling relationships are never plain sailing. “Oh yeah for sure! We’ve probably had punch ups all over the world! But it’s a pretty punishing industry we’re in, and we’re all really competitive, so it’s not gonna be any other way is it! And at the heart of it there’s a whole lotta love. We’ve been through so much together over the years, from playing waltzes at the pub to headlining festivals, sometimes it doesn’t seem real!”
And here’s to many, many more years of the almost unreal for the brothers Kora.
Discover our summer
the Brink Back from
Norfolk Island is often described as an enormous lush-green dairy farm floating in the endless blue of the Pacific Ocean. Norfolk’s diminutive neighbour, Phillip Island, is something completely different however; burnt ochre in colour, it has been described as the Uluru of the Pacific and is uninhabited but for birds. Thousands and thousands of birds.
Phillip Island Aerial before and after
And yet Phillip Island is something very special indeed, a bastion of exotic life that tells a story of hope for the environment.
Volcanic in origin, Phillip Island is just 190 hectares (470 acres) in area, and made up chiefly of lava and solidified volcanic ash, the legacy of an eruption millions of years ago. Just six kilometres south of Norfolk Island, it was named after Arthur Phillip, who had an illustrious naval career that saw him ultimately rise to the delightfully titled rank of ‘Admiral of the Blue’, and who served as the first Governor of New South Wales.
The early Norfolk colonists introduced pigs, goats and rabbits to Phillip Island as a source of sport – as in hunting, for the officers only naturally – as well as food, and this is where it all started to go wrong.
The Island’s environment was completely unsuited to these voracious foreign interlopers, who rapidly consumed any vegetation and disrupted the delicate ecosystem, eating skinks and geckos, and disrupting the habitats of everything from petrels and snails to giant birdeating centipedes. With no plant life to secure it, the soil washed or blew away and what had once been a harsh but green and pleasant land turned into, well, a wasteland.
If you’d only viewed the Island in its ravaged state – by 1977 it was basically just bare rock – you may have felt it was beyond saving, but fortunately in the 1980s restoration work began, and then in 1996 it became part of the Norfolk Island National Park. This set in motion a chain of events that saw dedicated and passionate individuals and groups working to turn back the clock, and forty years on the change has been astonishing.
With no plant life to secure it, the soil washed or blew away and what had once been a harsh but green and pleasant land turned into, well, a wasteland.
“The Phillip Island restoration project began with the removal of all the feral animals that were degrading the landscape.” Says Sara Freeland, Visitor Experience Manager for the Norfolk Island National Park. “This made a drastic difference in the recruitment and survival of plant life, and over the years we have built on this by continuing to support the recovery of the native forest.”
“Currently we have a small plant nursery on Phillip Island, and actively replant natives across the island. Our ranger team tries to visit Phillip Island once a month - though this is not always possible because of weather - to clear invasive weeds. The focus here is on controlling smaller patches of new weeds, rather than trying to eradicate the immense stands of olive, which are actually helping to stabilise the soil.”
“Our Natural Resource Management team have a biosecurity management plan, which also aims for monthly monitoring of pest species, namely rodents. Currently rats (and cats) are not detected on the island, which is a huge environmental plus as they would significantly impact the nesting sea bird colonies.”
All this means that Phillip Island today is home once more to a variety of unique species of flora and fauna – some of which had been thought to be extinct – and thousands of migratory seabirds breed there, including masked boobies, black-winged petrels, sooty terns and black noddies. The bird-eating centipede – which is frankly scary as it is known to grow up to 150mm long and 17mm wide! – and two other rare species, the Lord Howe Island Skink and the Lord Howe Island Gecko, are now found in much better numbers. Rare and tiny snails, thought to have been extinct, are also once again resident on the Island.
No humans live permanently on the island, although there is a small fisherman’s hut there, known locally as the Phillip Island Hilton, however it can only be booked by Norfolk Island residents.
The bird-eating centipede –which is frankly scary as it is known to grow up to 150mm long and 17mm wide!
Phillip Island Centipede
Non-Norfolk residents can still visit Phillip Island on a guided trekking tour, but be warned that a fairly good level of fitness is required as you will need to scale rocks and a rope ladder, as well as get out of and back into the boat without a jetty! The boat trip out only takes 20 minutes, but it can only be made in good weather so you may need to be flexible with your schedule.
An easier option can be a visit to the Norfolk Island Discovery Centre, which can be found at the Botanic Gardens. It has excellent displays telling the stories of Norfolk Island’s geological history and native plant and wildlife species, and also covers many of the species from Phillip Island such as the rare Phillip Island Hibiscus; it’s nice to know that you can still explore a little of Phillip Island while on Norfolk without having to go full Indiana Jones.
Regardless of whether you visit it or just admire it from afar however, Phillip Island stands as testament to how dedication and passion can bring an ecosystem back from the brink - and provide a lesson to us all.
The Discovery Centre also shows the film Pterodroma: in search of the Kermadec petrel, a 28 minute film about the quest of two scientists trying to save the Kermadec petrel. The film is a great way to get a sense of Phillip Island and is a visual feast that beautifully portrays its raw wild beauty - and it’s also freely available on YouTube.
CHATHAM ISLANDS Fishin’ Mission
If you’re a keen fisher man - or woman - then you’re probably already aware of The Lateral Line, the free-wheeling Kiwi fishing series taking YouTube by storm. The shoot-from-the-hip show follows the adventures of Milan Radonich and Nathan ‘Nato’ O’Hearn as they travel up and down the country catching big fish and small, making friends with the catchphrase of ‘Chur Chur my brothers and sisters’ - and actually imparting some useful tips along the way. It’s a great exploration of the amazing fishing we have in Aotearoa New Zealand, and even if you aren’t a keen fisherman you should check out the boys’ channel to see why everyone else is!
Milan, left and Nato
Air Chathams loves the classic Kiwi ‘just do it’ attitude of Milan and Nato, and when we heard they had made a show about fishing on the Chathams we were keen to get them back there to explore even more. The result was ‘A Chatham Island Fishing Adventure’, as the boys took to the skies with us for more great fishing and yarns. We highly recommend you check out the episode when you can, but in the meantime, over to you boys!
“New Zealand has some incredible, untouched locations that don’t really get the limelight they deserve,” says Nato, who is very much the voice of the duo. “And the Chatham Islands is one of those places. For some it’s the perfect holiday destination, there’s only one hotel, one restaurant, a couple of fast food joints that open once a week, a general store for shopping, and a liquor store with the most enjoyable of publicans who makes your shopping experience one that you probably won’t forget in a hurry.
Chatham Islands
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
Norfolk Island Wellington
“For us it’s all about the fishing, and the seafood along the shorelines. Every time we go we have a plan and that plan never comes to fruition! The weather is always the deciding factor while on the island, as you can get swells and wind from all directions, meaning you have to work with the hand you are dealt.
“Our plan for this trip was concentrating on catching kingis in the massive lagoon and hāpuku off the rocks, but with huge swells and wind every day it made both options unachievable. So new plans were hatched and we decided to spend time on one of the beaches where the lagoon opens out into the southern Pacific.
“New Zealand has some incredible, untouched locations that don’t really get the limelight they deserve. And the Chatham Islands is one of those places”
“There’s nothing quite like cruising down a beach without a footprint or tyre track in sight, and we were to be the only visitors on the beach for the week - and who knows maybe the month. Every kilometre of coastline you found something different, either a dead pilot whale or a spring pumping freshwater out onto the beach. It was an untouched supermarket that was fully loaded - you just needed to remove your shoes and start gathering a feast.
Blue Moki caught off the local wharf in town
Untouched beaches with solid kingis crusing the breakers
Targeting giant moki of the shore
“The fishing here is incredible - every cast resulted in giant kahawai eating your offerings until you just couldn’t catch another, and with all that bait around our target the mighty kingfish shouldn’t be too far behind. Kingfish on the Chathams is only a recent thing, the locals don’t recall them being there forever, but over the last 10 years they have been showing up in the warmer months in big numbers. So it’s a pretty untapped fishery and one that required some time to try and work out, but the more you fish, the more you see the potential.
“Catching kingis off golden sand in crystal clear water, around massive schools of bait was something special”
“A story of massive schools of kingfish hunting the lagoon for piper over the warmer months is what got me to the island, and one day the weather gods will align and we will get the time to hunt the lagoon, but for this trip we decided to start stick baiting the beaches.
“With crystal clear water, we started scanning the beach with the drone, and what we realised was that the kahawai schools weren’t just on the river mouth, but pretty much the whole beach. It didn’t take long to start finding kingis around the bait and then lures were deployed; these kingis haven’t seen lures before, and they mowed down every one. Catching kingis off golden sand in crystal clear water, around massive schools of bait was something special, and it’s not every day you get to have this type of fishing.
“Following the kingfish adventure, we moved on to moki which is not that common on the mainland - but that’s another story you can see in the show!
“The more we visit the Chatham’s the more it shows you its true self. We have only scratched the surface of what this place has to offer, and our next trip that we are planning now involves hunting the island for pigs, wild sheep and cattle, game birds like swan and emu; this place has it all if you don’t mind crazy weather and incredible hunting and fishing.
“Thanks to all on the Chatham’s that allowed us to come and enjoy their home!”
Our fleet
Air Chathams has a fleet of 10 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
“Expect
plenty of action, and rugged raw beauty on the Chathams. It’s real fishing with mates, stunning views, and the kind of stories that only come from the great outdoors.”
Milan Radonich, Fishing Presenter The Lateral Line.
