Air Chats Summer 2023

Air Chats

AIR CHATHAMS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

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Kia ora tātou Welcome to the summer edition of our inflight Air Chats magazine, and here’s looking forward to a really great Kiwi summer season.

With El Niño conditions on the way, the weather forecasters are predicting a hotter, drier summer, so whether your thing is fishing off Kai Iwi Bay, surfing at Ōhope beach or stargazing on the clear night skies on the Chatham Islands, rest assured these are all destinations Air Chathams offers services to - so now is the time to buy your beach shorts, dust off the suitcases and plan your great escape.

At Air Chathams we love supporting the regions we fly to and a big part of this is connecting Kiwis to friends and whānau and making getting out and about in our big, beautiful backyard easier than ever. So for this summer issue of Air Chats, you will see we have chosen a wide range of themes for our articles, with a particular focus on rich story-telling from our spiritual homeland on Wharekauri, the Chatham Islands which we are sure you’ll enjoy, as well as a host of great things to see and do around the motu and beyond.

With the warmer season on the way, Air Chathams has also increased both its fleet and service capacity.

We introduced the larger 34-seat Saab 340 airliner to our Whakatāne service in November, an airline product enjoyed for many years on our Whanganui and Kāpiti Coast air services. And we have also upgraded our Auckland to Norfolk Island service with our flagship ATR72-500 aircraft. Which will ensure greater comfort, shorter flight times and more seats for individuals and tour groups too.

I am personally very excited about our brand-new scenic flight offering in our very own 1945 Douglas DC-3, Kaitaia, which dates back to the end of World War Two when it was gifted to the Royal New Zealand Air Force and began an illustrious Kiwi aviation career spanning many decades and every flight mission you could imagine. We will be offering 45-minute flights around Auckland from late December through until March. Departing directly from Auckland International Airport. An experience not to be missed!

So, on behalf of our Air Chathams team let us wish you and your loved ones a safe and festive summer break! We’re looking forward to welcoming you aboard and sharing time and conversation with you all when flying Air Chathams, your family in the sky!

Ka kite anō and safe travels!

Duane Emeny, Chief Operating Officer Air Chathams A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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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

Contents AIR CHATS

SUMMER/DECEMBER/2023

@airchathams

04 Publisher Plenty Limited - airchats@plenty.co.nz Editor/Kaiwhakatika Tuhinga Andy Taylor - info@plenty.co.nz Design & Production/Kaiwhakatauira

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EVENTS/NEWS The airline that brings New Zealand together.

HOTEL WITH A HISTORY

Many hotels have storied pasts; few with as many twists and turns as this one.

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STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

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INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

Sarah Lane - design@plenty.co.nz Advertising Enquiries airchats@plenty.co.nz +64 (0)27 932 5515 Cover image Moutohorā / Whale Island

Air Chats is published

by Plenty Limited on behalf of Air Chathams Limited. Copyright 2023

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).

The Māoriland Film Festival and creative hub are back and better than ever.

Estelle Bray-Taylor gives a guided tour of Air Chathams’ commitment to sustainability.

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RIVERS CONNECT Few rivers make connections like the mighty Whanganui Awa.

BACK FROM THE BRINK

A dedicated conservation effort has seen Moutohorā Whale Island returned to glory.

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A WEEK ON THE WATER

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LIKE NO OTHER

Traditional wa’a outriggers are back on the water in Norfolk - it’s time to get in training!

For a real get away from it all getaway, look no further than Flowerpot Lodge.

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OUR FLEET

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

DESTINATIONS

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

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V8 Jetsprints

Wednesday, 27 December 2023 and Sunday, 3 March 2024 For more information and tickets visit www.v8jetsprints.co.nz This thrilling spectacle is an annual favourite for locals and visitors alike, so if you love speed, the smell of methanol and the vibration of V8s then you won’t want to miss the action of the V8 Jetsprints where high-speed adrenaline junkies make split-second decisions and hesitation could mean elevation (to an island or suspension in a fence that is!). Bring your family (but leave the family pets with a loved one), bring a blanket and be entertained by one of the fastest machines on the planet reaching speeds of 140km in under two seconds.

Watch as they navigate their way around the tight channels in a course about the size of a rugby field all of them pushing hard for the ultimate glory of winning.

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Whanganui Opera Week 7 - 21 January 2024 Tickets are available from the Royal Whanganui Opera House and online at www.whanganuivenues.co.nz Each January, Whanganui Opera Week is proud to present the students of the New Zealand Opera School at various public events in the city, culminating in a gala concert at the Royal Whanganui Opera House. This festival of Opera is recognised as one of the regions most popular events and attracts visitors both nationally and internationally.

And in 2024 the New Zealand Opera School celebrates its 30th anniversary with even more not-to-be-missed events.

������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Whanganui Vintage Weekend 19 till 22 January 2024 www.whanganuivintageweekend.nz This annual event is a celebration of the best of yesteryear.

Whanganui begins every year with a huge, colourful party weekend; with vintage and celebration-themed events, dress-up competitions, special shopping, dancing and more, this weekend has something for everyone. This celebration of all things vintage takes place over Wellington Anniversary Weekend and is truly not to be missed!

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AUCKLAND

WHANGANUI

Events OGs in the House Sunday, 24 March, 2024. Shed 10. www.3spresents.com/the-o-gs Immigrants to Aotearoa from the Pacific Islands in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s had all sorts of dreams for their families – but being an opera singer wasn’t one of them.

Today, Pasefika opera voices are heard around the globe and The O.Gs - is a ‘concert in motion’ celebrating the first wave of Pasefika opera singers.

The lineup includes virtuosos who have sung all over the world, and for this once in a lifetime event, are coming home to sing and share their stories with you. The O.G’s will take us on a journey from the music of their islands to Bellini, Mozart, Verdi, Strauss, Gershwin, Sondheim and more.

Performers include Aivale Cole, Soprano, Lotte Latukefu Mezzo soprano, Tenors Ben Makisi and Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali’Ii, Bass baritone Eddie Muliaumaseali’i and Soprano Deborah Wai Kapohe, with choir and orchestra conducted by Opeloge Ah Sam. Master of movement Iosefa P Enari (MNZM) written and directed by Siliga Sani Muliaumaseali’i.

KĀPITI COAST

Ōtaki Kite Festival Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2024 at Ōtaki Beach www.facebook.com/OtakiKiteFestival The inaugural Ōtaki Kite Festival event was held in March 2013 with professional kite fliers invited from Nelson and Ashburton, as were enthusiastic members of the New Zealand Kite Fliers Association.

It has now grown into an iconic event for the Kāpiti Coast, with the Ōtaki Promotions Group extensively developing the Festival over the years.

History Lovers Tour 3 till 10 March 2024 www.norfolkisland.com.au (search ‘History Lovers Tour’) Join Australian History Research to step back in time and discover Norfolk Island. Immerse yourself in Norfolk Island heritage for the history lovers tour and holiday on Norfolk Island. Featuring the new First Fleet and Norfolk Island 1st Settlement Showcase and Research Day, personalised and experienced heritage travel, hosted history and heritage guide, and much, much more. Norfolk Island History Lovers Tour is a project of Australian History Research and Heritage Tourism.

WHAKATĀNE

NORFOLK ISLAND

Now the biggest event on the Kāpiti Coast the Ōtaki Kite Festival has something for everyone in addition to our fantastic kite displays, we have entertainment, stalls, food and more.

Local Wild Food Festival Saturday 24 February, 2pm - 8pm Mahy Reserve, Ōhope www.whakatane.com/local-wild-food-festival-2024 Whakatāne’s Local Wild Food Festival is back for 2024, returning to the original location of Mahy Reserve, but at a new evening time-slot!

The festival has a relaxed atmosphere with live music, food trucks, local food demonstrations and markets.

The challenge element of the food festival will return too, and we encourage local (and visiting) foodies to enter the competition - preparing a local wild food dish and present for judging on the day.

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News Whakatāne welcomes the Saab 340 Rainbow Excellence Awards recognise Pride Whanganui The work of local charity Pride Whanganui has been recognised at the 2023 Rainbow Excellence Awards.

Pride Whanganui trustee Christina Emery said that while the group and its volunteers didn’t do their work for awards, the recognition felt awesome all the same. “It was great that the judges wanted to recognise our hard work in the community,” she said.

The awards are the only rainbow-focused programme of the kind in New Zealand and recognise workplace leadership, innovation, best practice and collaboration in organisations committed to rainbow diversity and inclusion.

Air Chathams is pleased to announce that the Whakatāne’s rōhe’s loyalty to our airline has seen the introduction of the Saab 340 airliner to the route. The Saab 340 is a 34-seat aircraft used throughout the world including on Air Chathams routes into Whanganui and the Kāpiti Coast. The Saab 340 offers greater legroom, an onboard flight attendant, inflight service, and toilet. It has a standup cabin and is considerably quieter than the aircraft that was previously used on the Whakatāne to Auckland air service.

www.nzrainbowawards.co.nz/awards

������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Towards a predator free Chathams As part of the ‘Predator Free 2050’ in New Zealand, it was great for Air Chathams to be able to be a major sponsor for the annual Chatham Island Norman Kirk Memorial Centre Pig Hunting Competition held at the end of September.

Air Chathams put up major prizes including the 1st prize for ‘THE BIG 4’ Pest Winner (Possum/Rat/Mouse/Hedgehog), that saw the eradication of plenty of wild vermin from the Chatham Islands by enthusiastic local hunters and conservationists of all ages.

Pest Free Token Project pest traps were also gifted as smaller prizes on the day, and the eradication of pests on the Chatham Islands aligns with our own environmental and community values as well as contributing to the safe-keeping of the many vulnerable endangered species on the islands, including 12 bird species currently listed as Critically Endangered.

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Image credit: NASA

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Bay of Plenty Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Bay of Plenty believes every young person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and seeks to enable this by recruiting and training volunteer mentors to meet weekly with a primary aged child who has been identified as needing extra support. Mentors are 18+, come from a range of backgrounds, and provide their young person with positive experiences and different perspectives. As a not-for-profit organisation, they rely on community minded individuals or businesses to support their kaupapa because, as the saying goes, ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’

One hour, once a week can change a life – so check out their website to see how you could be involved. www.bigbrothersbigsisters.org.nz

Sustainable Backyards - Bay of Plenty Each March, Envirohub offers the opportunity to connect, learn and inspire with online and in-person events throughout the Bay of Plenty Region. Their Sustainable Backyards initiative covers everything from growing your own food, beach/estuary clean-ups, consumer choices, cooking, bush walks, kids’ events, frock swaps, and movie screenings.

Check their website for info on their month-long calendar, full of workshops, guides, live kōrero sessions and more! And there is now an app to make keeping in the loop even easier! www.envirohub.org.nz/programmes/sustainable-backyards A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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Important Information for Visitors

The Islands are a place where you will enjoy many different activities.

Nature, history, culture, fishing, walks and hikes, photography, art and craft, isolated beaches and bird watching.

Here are a few key things Tourism Chatham Islands would like you to know before you arrive.

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

Please leave the paua beds for the locals.

They are an important local food source and resource that we don’t want to see depleted.

You can enjoy lots of quality Chatham Islands seafood on the menus here on the islands.

Voluntary Visitor Levy - $25 per visitor To assist enhancing the visitor experience, particularly infrastructure, we encourage all visitors to make a donation of $25 directly to Tourism Chatham Islands: ANZ Account: 06 0845 00796434 002 Particulars: Your name Reference: Donation Thank you for your support.

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

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

Water Conservation Water is often in short supply and restrictions are put in place, particularly in summer.

Please help us to conserve it when showering, flushing etc.

CHATHAM ISLANDS

Hotel with a history

Hotel Chathams is an integral part of the Chatham Islands community, a place to meet, to catchup on news, and connect with friends and family. But it has also played a central role in the history of the Island, always there, a key player in the incredible story of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most western point.

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The first hotel on Chatham Island was opened in the 1860s Waitangi, about 1888, Chatham Islands, by William Dougall, Burton Brothers.

Purchased 1943. Te Papa (C.015417)

The first hotel on Chatham Island was opened in the 1860s on land owned by Māori chief Toenga Te Poki. It was known as Mangoutu House, was owned and managed by John and Isabella Alexander, and served visitors from the mainland as well as visiting seafarers eager to be on dry land after the long ocean journeys required to reach Rēkohu, as the Islands were known to Moriori.

In 1868 a particularly notable visitor to the Island also paid a visit to Mangoutu House, though not for the usual reasons of clean sheets and home cooked meals. Te Kooti Arikirangi Te Turuki, Māori leader and founder of the Ringatū religious movement, had been exiled to the Chatham Islands in 1866 after being accused of spying. Te Kooti had been fighting alongside government forces to suppress the Pai Mārire (better known as the Hauhau movement), but his allegiance came

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into question when he tried to contact his brother, who was fighting on the Hauhau side. He was, bizarrely, exiled to the Chatham Islands together with some of the very same Hauhau that he had been very recently locked in mortal combat with.

This came as no setback to Te Kooti however, who had soon married, grown into a respected leader and established himself as a prophet.

But after two years Te Kooti grew tired of his splendid isolation and on 4 July 1868 he led an escape together with 168 other prisoners, seized the schooner Rifleman, scuttled another vessel, the Florence, so that the alarm could not be raised, and set off back to the North Island. Before departing Te Kooti paid a visit to several homes and also Mangoutu House in search of flour, food and money, but the quickwitted Isabella was more than a match for him, hiding 300 sovereigns in a kettle she had boiling on the stove.

1902 Mangoutu House was sold, its name changed to the Mangoutu Hotel Mangoutu Hotel, Waitangi, Chatham Islands. Photographed by E M C Guest. Ref: 1/2-037617-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, records/22706051

In 1902 Mangoutu House was sold, its name changed to the Mangoutu Hotel, and there began a period of expansion.

The building was extended in 1909, and a general store was opened in the extension to sell clothing, saddlery and footwear. In 1927, parts of the original structure were

renewed, and this was followed by a complete renovation in 1957 together with another name change, this time to Hotel Chathams - which is as it remains today. The most recent renovations came in 2009 with an upgrade to the guest rooms and an upper floor added.

The building was extended in 1909, and a general store was opened in the extension to sell clothing, saddler and footwear

Travellers Rest Hotel and general store, Waitangi, Chatham Islands, photographed between 1909-1913 by E M C Guest. Shows the proprietor behind the bar. Includes metal buckets, boots, and waders, hanging from the ceiling. Ref: 1/1-013314-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, records/22549494 A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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Hotel Chathams no longer welcomes salty sea dogs who’ve spent six months in a leaky boat - or indeed exiled prophets - but if you are planning a trip to the Chatham Islands it’s your home away from home. The Hotel offers everything from exclusive seaview suites to single rooms, or you can choose from the historic Traveller’s Rest villa, the Lookout private retreat, the Chatham Rise Motel or the secluded cottage at Admiral Garden. It is also home to the only restaurant on the Island, with - not surprisingly - freshly caught fish being the speciality; the selection does depend on how the catch went, but that is no hardship when you can typically enjoy crayfish, hāpuku, groper, blue cod or paua!

And just as the Hotel is a central focus for the local community, it is also the place to be for any visitors to the Chatham Islands. It’s not just the place to stay and sample the excellent food, but also a great place to launch your Island adventure from, with a host of tours and events to make the most of your stay.

There is the popular Mid Winter Christmas, Matariki celebrations that combine cooking classes and workshops showcasing Chatham

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Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau

Wellington

Chatham Islands

Christchurch

Island produce, tours working on regenerative planting activities, very popular photography tours, dark sky star gazing, a painting retreat and The Concert in the Garden.

So many visitors think of this spectacular part of Aotearoa New Zealand as only being about hunting and fishing, and Hotel Chathams (though it can certainly help you see some tight lines) is where you find out just how wrong this is!

Stay, Eat, Discover

at Hotel Chathams

DIFFERENT ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS RESTAURANT AND BAR | AIRPORT TRANSFERS RENTAL VEHICLES | GUIDED BUS TOURS COORDINATE YOUR ENTIRE VISIT

Nestled on the shores of glorious Waitangi Bay, Hotel Chathams is the very best choice for your Chatham Islands adventure.

From accommodation, airport transfers and rental vehicles, to guided bus tours, great cuisine and restaurant and bar facilities, we offer everything to make your visit to this unique archipelago fun, stress free and the trip of a life time.

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

Discover - Tours and activities

• Nature watching, hiking & photography • Historical & cultural • Fishing & diving • Luxury women’s adventures • Seafood cuisine trails and so much more!

HOTEL CHATHAMS

+64 (0)3 305 0048

1 Waterfront Rd, Waitangi, Chatham Islands Flights operated by Air Chathams

info@hotelchatham.co.nz hotelchatham.co.nz

KĀPITI COAST

Strength to Strength 14

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You can’t keep a good thing down, the old saying goes, and the Māoriland Film Festival in Ōtaki is a very good thing.

Since its inception it has grown into the largest indigenous film festival in the world

The Māoriland Film Festival has been bringing the world to the Kāpiti Coast since 2014 as it celebrates indigenous voices and storytelling in film. Since its inception it has grown into the largest indigenous film festival in the world, with the 2023 event showcasing more than 200 short films from around the world. And in 2024, Māoriland is looking to make the Festival its biggest event yet!

“This year, 2023, was our first year back having the borders opened,” says Libby Hakaraia of the Māoriland Charitable Trust, who is herself a film producer and director, “and we had a great influx of visitors. For 2024 we are expecting even more film makers and film industry delegations from all around the world, which is a sign of the passion and success of the indigenous film community.”

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The Māoriland hub regularly hosts gigs that bring some awesome talent to the Kāpiti Coast

Maddy de Young, who has taken on the role from Libby of Māoriland Film Festival Director, has been travelling the world in recent months and said Māoriland is globally very popular.

“I was lucky enough to be a part of the programming team at the ImagineNATIVE Film Festival in Toronto, Canada, and that festival had the largest number of submissions they’ve ever had. The standard is very high indeed, with many of these films picking up awards at festivals like Cannes and Berlin.

Indigenous cinema is growing with a new generation of filmmakers coming through.”

“2024 will be a very big year, and the thing that sets Māoriland apart and the thing people celebrate us for is the experience you get in Ōtaki. It is a beautiful environment between the mountains and the sea, but mostly it is the manaaki you don’t get to experience anywhere else in the world, and we’re really looking forward to being about to share that experience with everyone again.”

Just as the Festival has gone from strength to strength, so too has the Māoriland Charitable Trust, the creative powerhouse behind the Festival. The Trust is committed to creating

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social, cultural and economic opportunities not just for film makers and artists, but for the wider community of Ōtaki, and the success of the Film Festival has seen its activities grow and branch out into new areas of creativity.

Libby is currently helming the film production arm of Māoriland, with a slate of projects including feature and short films, and the production arm also includes the training of young people who come from across New Zealand.

A further initiative, He Paki Taketake, is sharing and celebrating the Māori language by reversioning films into te reo Māori, while Toi Matarau is a contemporary Māori art gallery platform to showcase the incredible visual artists in the Ōtaki community and across Aotearoa.

Indigenous cinema is growing with a new generation of filmmakers coming through.

All these activities have been largely enabled through the establishment of the Māoriland Hub in the centre of Ōtaki town. It has now become a vibrant centre of creativity, fostering many forms of the arts as well as the nuts and bolts of the mahi behind those arts.

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And the good news is that you don’t have to be a creative genius to get in on the action. The Māoriland hub regularly hosts gigs that bring some awesome talent to the Kāpiti Coast; titled Auckland Māoriland Presents, each event begins with a brief kōrero Tāmaki Makaurau (rather than an interview) where artists are invited to share who they are, their why and how, before their performance begins, so - like so many things Māoriland - this is a welcome take on the traditional concept of performance.

Māoriland Presents artists to date have included Anika Moa, Troy Kingi, Shayne Carter, Maisey Rika, Trinity Roots, The Modern Māori Quartet, Laughton Kora, and The Māori Sidesteps to name just a few.

Which is just another reason to keep maoriland.co.nz bookmarked in your browser. The Film Festival schedule will be announced on Waitangi Day, but there is always something going on in this creative hive of industry that is worth checking out and that makes for another very good reason to get on over to Ōtaki!

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Kāpiti Coast

The

Kāpiti Coast Awaits

Wonder awaits on the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail

Toi MAHARA Gallery opening 28/29 October

4/5 11/12 November

Tantalise your tastebuds at the Kāpiti Food Fair 2 December

Ōtaki turns it up with Kapiti Food Fair Night Gig with Tami Neilson 2 December

Ōtaki Kite Festival 17/18 February Maoriland Film Festival 20-24 March

AIR CHATHAMS

At Air Chathams we’re

Investing in the future 20

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passionate about our environment, and we know that reaching sustainability is going to be a marathon not a sprint. So we’re making sure we’re in it for the long haul and focussing first on our own backyard and spiritual home – the Chatham Islands.

AWARAKAU LODGE

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Luxury accommodation on the Chatham Islands

20 23 AIR CHATHAMS

Sustainability Strategy Sustainability 2023 Strategy AIR CHATHAM S

2023

airchathams.co.nz

airchathams.co.nz

T

O GET US WHERE WE NEED TO BE we recently completed our Sustainability Strategy, to help our entire organisational family make us as environmentally friendly as possible. The Strategy also helped identify that we are committed to collaborating with local community organisations, embracing a community-centric, eco-friendly approach in all our operations.

With this grass-roots focus firmly in place we set about meticulously choosing organisations on the Chatham Islands that align with our vision and ensure the best possible outcomes for the environment and our people.

One of our first initiatives was the introduction of an additional flight prize in the Big 4 Pest Category at the Norman Kirk Memorial Reserve pig hunting competition and the donation of pest control traps. The Norman Kirk Memorial Reserve and the Den offer venue hire, catering, sports complex, Densdays and is the main organiser of the pig hunting competition, and it’s been great to be working with them on this initiative.

Looking for somewhere special for a relaxing getaway?

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

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

Awarakau Lodge - Hosts; Greg & Rosemarie Phone: 0064 3 3050176 Greg: 027 699 1222 Rosemarie: 027 305 0069 Email: enquiries@awarakau-lodge.nz We are a family owned and operated business

www.awarakau-lodge.nz A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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P

EST CONTROL IS VITALLY IMPORTANT and promoting it as something the community can get behind was met with enthusiastic responses from both the competition participants and the Chatham Islands community, and the new, innovative category opens the doors for a broader demographic to engage in. Previously, many children and members of the fairer sex relied on the males in their lives to partake in pig hunting, requiring dogs, firearms, and more.

In contrast, participating in the pest-catching category is remarkably accessible, involving

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the simple task of setting traps, which kids and women can easily do on their own property.

This inclusive approach encourages greater community involvement, and our contribution of return flights as a prize certainly amplified the category’s appeal, leading to the capture of a remarkable number of pests.

This is a great example of an initiative that not only aligns with our community-centric approach but also contributes significantly to our environmental sustainability goals, underlining Air Chatham’s commitment to making a positive difference in the Chatham Islands.

Pest control is vitally important and promoting it as something the community can get behind was met with enthusiastic responses

A further pest control initiative has been our cooperative efforts with the Pest Free Token project, which was launched in April 2022 with the sole purpose of helping New Zealand reach its 2050 predator free targets. 100% of the project’s profit goes to pest eradication, and the team take no wages to make sure the project can have a much greater impact. The Pest Free Token project has worked with Bunnings to sponsor 100 free pest traps to the Chatham Island Restoration Trust, and Air Chathams are sponsoring the freight and passenger flights for a Token project staff member to assist the Trust with distributing and setting the pest traps.

Is your land working for you?

Subdivisions & Partitions Boundary Identifications Planning & Resource Management Aerial Photography & Farm Mapping Leases, Easements & Covenants

Definition are a team of specialist surveyors based in the Hawke’s Bay, Bay of Plenty and Southland.

Sheldon, one of our Licenced Cadastral Surveyors, grew up in the 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 027 237 7327 sheldon.mcguire@definition.nz

Taura hono tangata, taura here whenua When land connects us

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But in addition to eradicating pests, Air Chathams also wants to help undo the damage these pesky little critters have done. To support this we purchased over 800 native Chatham Island trees from the KMP Nursery, which will be planted in the new year planting season to help in the restoration reserves on the Island. A small family-owned native plant nursery, KMP is nestled in the heart of Wharekauri Station.

Managed and operated by Marion and Paul Smith, with over 30 years of experience and knowledge, the nursery focuses and specialises in the propagation and production of Chatham Island native trees and plants.

It takes a village they say, and Air Chathams is honoured to be working with so many local groups.

“Air Chathams has always been a great support to our Pig Hunting Competition,” says Norman Kirk Memorial Reserve Manager Sheree Gay. “This year however they have gone above and beyond, donating not one but two airfares, rat traps, t-shirt apparel, and their own designed craft beer.

Their efforts around conservation have fuelled this year’s new pest category, and I really feel that the sponsorship and support provided

by Air Chathams, and the Chatham Island Landscape Restoration Trust helped with the increase in ticket sales and the hype around the community bringing awareness to our pest problem.

Because of the fantastic response to the new category, we will continue this great initiative.

Thanks, Air Chathams!”

And thank you Sheree and all our sustainability partners for joining us on our sustainability journey – here’s to the future!

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3

th

anniversary of the

7 - 21 January 2024

Be part of the celebrations.

Book front row seats to see Aotearoa New Zealand's rising operatic stars during Whanganui Opera Week 2024 www.operaschool.org.nz

WHANGANUI

Kō au te Āwa, kō te Āwa kō au, I am the river and the river is me

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Rivers Connect Rivers connect, so the saying goes, and very few rivers in Aotearoa New Zealand have connected so many, for so long, as the Whanganui.

According to legend, the Whanganui River was a ravine carved from the land by Ranginui, the Sky Father, as a gift to Ruapehu. When the great mountains of the central plateau, Tongariro and Taranaki, battled over the maiden Pīhanga, Taranaki was defeated and fled to the coast; the land split open as he passed and the tears he cried over his defeat filled the ravine and became the Whanganui River.

And what a river it was. As the longest navigable river in the country it was pivotal in connecting Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tuwharetoa and Ngāti Hauaroa and for connecting the central North Island to the coast. When European settlers arrived in the 1880s the Whanganui River’s banks were one of the most densely populated parts of the country, with numerous villages and pā sites.

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William Salt, his sister and a small party rowed down the river from Taumarunui, circa 1910.

Ned Tapa is on the River nearly everyday, often taking youths at risk down the river to give them a better sense of being, and he knows only too well the important place it holds. “For preEuropean Māori the River was our everything,” Ned says. “Spiritually, physically and emotionally. It was a source of food, it healed our sick, and it was our main highway – because we are connected by water, and some would say separated by land!”

Pākehā also recognised the importance of the River, both for trade and travel. The waka that traversed the River were soon joined by paddle steamers that journeyed deep into the interior, and hotels and moored riverboats joined the villages and pa sites to cater to arriving settlers and tourists, who came from Australia to see the legendary ‘Māoriland’.

Churches soon joined the hotels, and as the European presence grew, so too did pressure on the river and local Māori. By the 1860s this had boiled over into open conflict, with the Hauhau movement gathering in the River’s headlands and marching west with the ultimate goal of the Whanganui settlement. When they reached Pipiriki they battled local iwi and then set about laying siege to the Pākehā garrison there, which they had effectively surrounded. Cut off from supplies and communications and running short of food and water, things were looking somewhat bleak for the garrison troops, although the story goes that they were well supplied with rum and were maintaining a ration of three tots per day – which makes it even more remarkable that they managed any resistance at all!

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The houseboat Makere on the Wanganui River, 1914.

Credit Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 499-ALB116F-04-01

The rum ration did provide a solution however, in the form of the empty bottles it produced.

Notes requesting reinforcements were written in Latin to confuse any Māori who found them (though this would quite possibly have confused Pākehā too) and were sealed in bottles which were then thrown into the river under cover of night. Remarkably, one of the bottles was found and translated, and a relief force was hurriedly assembled – but before it reached the garrison the Hauhau force lost interest and moved on!

“For pre--European Māori the River was our everything”

By 1891 a regular steamer service up the river was introduced to Pipiriki, with visitors staying at Pipiriki House, which was billed as one of the country’s most modern hotels. Modern it may have been, but it had no fire fighting system and was burnt to the ground in 1909. By that time the steamers could travel all the way to Taumarunui, where a 92 foot long houseboat, the Makere, was built before being floated down the river to a mooring at Maraekowhai. It had all the mod cons like hot showers and electric lights, but – like Pipiriki House – no means of fighting fire; it burnt to the waterline in 1933.

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A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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An early photograph of the Paddle Steamer Waimarie fully loaded with passengers

Before long, industry was joining tourism on the River. By the mid to late 1800s there were an estimated 30,000 acres of wheat under cultivation, and water-driven mills sprang up to turn this into flour. However, the extensive clearance of the bush caused massive changes to the land and its people and as early as the 1880s there were calls to protect the river.

Though those calls would take more than a century to be answered, the solution was innovative – and a world first.

In 2017, after decades of lobbying, the New Zealand Parliament passed a law that granted the river its own legal identity, known as Te Awa Tupua, with the same legal rights and responsibilities as a person.

Decades of negotiations culminated in Te Awa Tupua recognising the river as an indivisible entity, from its source on Mount Tongariro until it meets the Tasman Sea, with all of its physical and spiritual elements.

“Giving the Whanganui River this identity was a world first,” says Ned. “It recognises that Whanganui Māori regard Te Awa Tupua as more than just a natural resource, it is a tupuna, or

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MV Wairua docked at Hipango Park

ancestor, and must be treated with respect.

We have a saying - Kō au te Āwa, kō te Āwa kō au, I am the river and the river is me - and in some ways giving Te Awa Tupua it’s identity has reinforced this and reconnected us.”

Connecting to the Whanganui River is still a pretty magical experience; whether from the shore via hiking or biking, or in a kayak or on a paddle steamer, getting up close and personal with the mighty Te Awa Tupua is something we can all enjoy.

City vibes

outdoor skies

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WHAKATĀNE

Back from the brink

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We’re spoilt for natural beauty in Aotearoa New Zealand, from majestic mountains and broad lakes, to native forests and beautiful beaches. But sometimes, the real jewels are right there under our noses, hiding in plain view.

Like Moutohorā Whale Island.

L

OCATED JUST NINE KILOMETRES OFFSHORE OF WHAKATĀNE, Moutohorā is ever present for visitors and locals alike, its lush greenery seemingly so close you can reach out and touch it, an island idyll offering escape and sanctuary.

And for many years that is probably exactly what Moutohorā was. “According to Ngāti Awa, the first known occupation of Moutohorā was by Te Rongotauroa-ā-tai, grandson of Toroa, commander of the Mataatua waka,” says Patrick O’Sullivan of Moutohorā Island Sanctuary Tours. “Rongo built and occupied a pā on Moutohorā which he called Raetihi Kāwatawata Koangiangi (The Summit of Gentle Breezes) so there was definitely occupation, and the island was probably used as a refuge in times of conflict, but because it has very limited fresh water supplies, we’re not certain about how many people could have been there and for how long.”

There remains evidence of kūmara pits however, and there are also remnants of stone walls to be found at the Raetihi pā site, all of which indicates that Moutohorā was more than just a place for short term stop overs. “This is one of the few pā sites which have stone works,” Patrick says, “and there is some evidence that the stonework uses the same methods as that in the Cook Islands. So it seems like it was a fairly well-used area and people did live there permanently, and the pā would certainly have been a great place for refuge, being on a point with three sides protected by cliffs - but the challenge would have been fresh water, with some having to be brought from the mainland.”

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Early European settlers saw the island less as a refuge and more as a resource. “A whaling station was established in the 1830s,” Patrick says, “probably lured by the English name but also Moutohorā can be loosely translated as ‘island’ and the word for whale - possibly a reference to it being the whale that a legendary tohunga used to ride back from Whakaari. The station was not very successful however, with not a single whale being caught - and in fact not a single whale even being sighted in the eight months they were there!”

Attempts to mine sulphur on the island were only slightly more successful due to the low quality found there, but a stone quarry established in 1915 proved much more forthcoming. Some 26,000 tons of rock were cut from the island and used to build the Whakatāne sea wall, and while this gave the township much needed protection, it wrought chaos on Moutohorā.

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There is some evidence that the stonework uses the same methods as that in the Cook Islands.

“The rock was ferried into the harbour with scows,” Patrick says, “and this is probably how the island became overrun with rats.

Rabbits and feral cats also made their way out there, and goats were introduced who munched on basically everything. Right up until around 40 years ago I can remember seeing it just as barren, bare paddock.”

Fortunately, this was not to be Moutohorā’s ultimate fate. Declared a wildlife refuge in 1965, a programme to eradicate the goats, rats and other pests got underway and once this was achieved a planting programme began; over 45 species are now established and the island is covered with pōhutukawa, māhoe, kānuka, bracken and grassland. The return of native flora also heralded the return of native fauna and there is now a breeding colony of grey-faced petrels with a population of around 184,000 (at last count), and sooty shearwaters, little blue penguins, the threatened New Zealand dotterel and variable oystercatchers also breed on the island.

“It’s a testament to what conservation can achieve,” Patrick says. “If you remove the pests and just get things started, it’s amazing what nature can do. I think only around 11,000 trees were planted there, which is not a huge number in the scheme of things on Moutohorā, but just look at it today.”

Let Ohope Beach Motel introduce you to the most beautiful beach in New Zealand M 027 777 2292 E office@ohopebeachmotel.nz 52 West End Road • Ohope 3121 And you don’t have to look at Moutohorā from afar. Guided tours leave from Whakatāne and it is just a 15 minute boat ride to the island to see the lush, regenerated native bush, bird life, seals and the occasional dolphin on the way, before digging yourself a soothing geothermal spring pool at Onepū Bay, Moutohorā’s secluded hot water beach or swimming in the startlingly clear water. With the track to the pā site currently closed that is not part of the tour, but the rich history of the island is explained by the guides, who are also adept at pointing out wildlife - even tuatara have been spotted recently!

So if you’re visiting the Eastern Bay - it’s glorious beaches and fishing and hiking - don’t forget to get out to Moutohorā, the jewel hiding in plain view.

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Summer like this?

NORFOLK ISLAND

A week on the water

F

OR MANY YEARS NORFOLK ISLAND WAS A DESTINATION FOR THOSE IN THE KNOW, slightly more intrepid travellers who wanted to avoid the maddening crowds but still soak up the sun, culture and beauty of a Pacific island idyll. In recent years, more and more smart travellers have made Norfolk Island a priority, discovering the charms of this fantastic destination – it’s food, friendly locals and stunning scenery – that is just a hop, skip and a jump from Aotearoa New Zealand.

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O

NE of those hidden charms comes in the third week of January, when a very different kind of tourist arrives armed not with guidebooks and sunscreen - but with wooden paddles! These are competitors in the Norfolk Ocean Challenge, and they come from Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, the United States and further afield for what is becoming known as one of the best outrigger regattas around, with three action-packed races spread over a week.

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The first Norfolk Ocean Challenge was held in 2015, and John Christian of Pinetree Tours, the island’s largest tour company, has been involved from the get-go. John is a direct descendant of mutineer Fletcher Christian and his Tahitian wife Mauatua on his father’s side, and on his mother’s side of mutineer Mathew Quintal and his wife Tevarua, and he was heavily involved in the founding of the Norfolk Island Wa’a club - Wa’a being the Norfolk word for what we call waka ama.

Given the oceangoing history of the Tahitian and European inhabitants of Norfolk, it’s fair to say that seafaring is in the blood. “Over the years the Islanders have built many different craft on the Island,” says John, “from the Boston whalers they constructed for whaling, to the larger vessels called lighters that were used for unloading freight from visiting ships, and a two-masted ketch built in the 1920’s to enable the exporting of bananas to New Zealand.”

One craft that was no longer being built on the island however was the Wa’a, the versatile outrigger that had been the workhorse of the local community for generations. John was eager to see these beautiful craft back in the water around Norfolk, and decided that something had to be done to make that a reality.

“So together with a group of motivated locals we formed the Norfolk Island Wa’a outrigger Canoe Club,” says John, “fundraising to purchase 12 V6 racing canoes and ten V1s from Tahitian company Varua Va’a. The V1 and V6 designations refer to number of crew, V1 obviously single and V6 being a crew of five paddlers and one steerer. The V refers to it being steered not with a rudder but a paddle.”

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Keep up to date with Norfolk Island news and information & make bookings online!

Log on to www.norfolkonlinenews.com & subscribe online or contact Alison on info@norfolkonlinenews.com

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Wa’a being the Norfolk word for what we call waka ama.

“Since it’s inauguration the Challenge has grown steadily in popularity, with competitors now coming from around the world. The premier event is a 26 km V6 marathon circumnavigating Norfolk Island’s stunning coastline, followed a day later by a 14km ocean paddle to Phillip Island and back. The final race is more of a fun day, made up of sprint racing in V1 and V6 Wa’as.”

No Challenge is scheduled for 2024, which is a good thing because this is a physically challenging event and it gives you a chance to get in shape for 2025! But remember that you don’t have to be a paddler to get in on the action; the Norfolk Ocean Challenge is something of a

“The Challenge sees the blessing of the fleet at Emily Bay, and the morning is spent making lei both for the paddlers and to decorate the canoes”

photographers dream, as well as a great cultural experience. “Day one of the Challenge sees the blessing of the fleet at Emily Bay, and the morning is spent making lei both for the paddlers and to decorate the canoes,” John says. “Making the leis is really enjoyed by the paddlers – as is the welcoming dinner held that night.”

There is also a mid-week rest day – much needed after the initial two marathon paddles!

– and this day sees a popular Island dress up party for competitors.

The highlight for many is the big wrap up of the Challenge – the Saturday night prize giving, which is held in conjunction with a farewell dinner in the form of one of Pinetree Tours’ famous fish fries. This is an Island tradition bringing together locals and visitors to taste the best of the Island’s local produce – seafood, salads, desserts and more – as the sun goes down over the ocean.

A fish fry is a Norfolk Island experience not to be missed, and let’s face it – Norfolk Island is an experience not to be missed!

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AUGUST 2023

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CHATHAM ISLANDS

For a real get away from it all getaway,

Like no other

look no further than Flowerpot Lodge.

Many locations tout themselves as perfect getaways, but there can be few places on earth that offer more of a real get-away-from-it-all getaway than Flowerpot Lodge on Pitt Island. It’s far from the maddening crowds, it’s nestled in some truly stunning scenery, and your hosts - Brent and Bernie Mallinson - offer the perfect introduction to absolutely everything there is to see and do on this tiny island at the bottom of the world.

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And there is good reason for Brent and Bernie to be so knowledgeable – Bernie is a descendant of one of the earliest European settlers to Pitt Island, and Brent first visited 20 years ago and has now lived there for nearly two decades.

Moriori had of course been on the Island prior to the Europeans’ arrival - they knew it as Rangiaotea, while Māori called it Rangiauria.

The honour of giving the Island its English name fell to Captain Charles Johnston on HMS Cornwallis in May 1807, who dubbed it ‘Pitt’s Island’ after William Pitt, who would go on to be known as Pitt the Elder. Over time the title was shortened to Pitt.

Then, in 1843, the Englishman Frederick Hunt, together with his wife Mary, arrived and - so the story goes - bartered his red military jacket

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for a large chunk of the island from the local chief, Apitea. Hunt then set about clearing much of the island and, like any settler worth his salt, began growing and trading fruit and vegetables locally and with any passing whaling ships that visited the Island. A force to be reckoned with by many accounts, Hunt was also rumoured to not be averse to a little smuggling on the side, but it was his habit of robustly ignoring the taxman that landed him in trouble with Wellington. His response was to declare himself King of Pitt Island and therefore above and beyond the laws of Inland Revenue. He also built a jail to enforce his own law of the land, and when two of Hunt’s daughters married local men – James Langdale and Matthew Gregory – he agreed only on the condition that they assumed his name. They agreed, and around two-thirds of the islanders today can trace their lineage back to these

pioneers, including Bernie, and Flowerpot Lodge now stands on the spot where Frederick Hunt first built his homestead. The jail is still there too, but is rarely used these days!

Flying into Pitt, which is about 20 kilometres to the southeast of Chatham Island, the Island looks deceptively small. In fact it has an area of 65 square kilometres - around 16,000 acres - so it would take a week or so to fully explore what the Island has to offer.

There is the intriguing history of this remote outpost of humanity to explore, from the earliest Moriori inhabitants to the hardy European settlers, but for many it is the stunning scenery and rare and unique flora and fauna of the Island that is the real drawcard. The Island sees only between 350-400 visitors a year, so you generally have the place to yourself to fulfil your ultimate Robinson Crusoe daydream, ponder the big questions or just forget your cares and woes and watch the waves roll by.

Life here really is governed more by wind and tide rather than clocks and calendars.

“One of the most heard comments we receive from new arrivals is how different Pitt Island is,”

Brent says. “Generally, Pitt Island is steeper country and quite rugged compared to the main island, especially the southern end of Pitt. While a significant portion of the Island is now moderate rolling farmland, there is still around 4000 acres of native bush, much of it protected in the three DOC Scenic Reserves.

All this provides the perfect backdrop for our tours and adventures. Guests are usually buzzing after landing on our tiny grass airstrip, as the views of Southern Chatham, the Outer Islands and Pitt, which you can’t really appreciate from land, are amazing.”

There are also around 20 endemic bird subspecies, about 50 odd endemic plants and trees, the rugged isolation, and the small piece of luxury at Flowerpot Bay Lodge that all adds up to a pretty impressive canvas.

Add in some good old-fashioned homecooked local food, and it’s not difficult to ensure happy guests!

There’s all that and – wait for it! - at its highest and most eastern elevation, Mt Hakepa, Pitt Island is also the first populated location on earth to see the sunrise. Sorry Gisborne.

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AIRCRAFT AIR CHATHAMS

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

ATR 72 Our newest regional airliner Speed Max Altitude Pressurised Cabin No. of Pilots No. of Flight Attendants No. of Seats Inflight Catering Toilet

500 kilometres per hour 25,000 feet Yes 2 2 68 Available Yes

Saab 340 Our Swedish princess Speed Max Altitude Pressurised Cabin No. of Pilots No. of Flight Attendants No. of Seats Inflight Catering Toilet

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470 kilometres per hour 25,000 feet Yes 2 1 34 Available Yes

Douglas DC-3 Our pride and joy. This remarkable aircraft has certainly ‘been there and done that’.

Speed Max Altitude Pressurised Cabin No. of Pilots No. of Flight Attendants No. of Seats Inflight Catering Toilet

240 kilometres per hour 10,000 feet No 2 1 28 Available Yes

Cessna 206 The Chatham Islands workhorse Speed Max Altitude Pressurised Cabin No. of Pilots No. of Flight Attendants No. of Seats Inflight Catering Toilet

230 kilometres per hour 10,000 feet No 1 0 5 No No

A I R C H AT H A M S . C O . N Z // S U M M E R 2 0 2 3

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DESTINATIONS AIR CHATHAMS

Norfolk Island

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

Whanganui Kāpiti Coast Wellington

Chatham Islands

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SERVI

N RE

PRO

D

G

U

Christchurch

N

INCE Z S

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4.

GIONA

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Take an amazing step back in aviation history and soar the Auckland skies on the majestic warbird the 1945 Douglas DC-3, ‘Kaitaia’ with Air Chathams.

Departing on select weekends through summer from 30th December 2023, at the domestic terminal at Auckland Airport.