Air Chats
Discover our spring
Kia ora tātou
Welcome to the Spring edition of our Air Chats magazine
The past few months have been a whirlwind of activity for Air Chathams, and we’ve loved every moment of it. We’ve had the privilege of welcoming incredible people on board our aircraft, from legendary rugby players and netball stars to passionate film crews visiting our spirit island home to capture its unique magic. And amidst all this movement and energy, we paused for Matariki, a time to slow down, reflect, and honour both our past and the journey ahead.
We’re proud of every passenger who flies with us, whether a sports icon or a family visiting whānau. Each person has a story, and we’re honoured to be part of those journeys. But one very special story unfolded within the airline itself recently, a significant moment in Air Chathams’ history with myself taking over from my father as Chief Executive Officer. It sure has been a great first few months and the support and congratulations offered has been truly humbling.
A key focus for us continues to be sharing and promoting the magic of the Chatham Islands — our spiritual home. There’s plenty to keep an eye out for with features like Kea Kids News, Girls Flight Out, and coverage of the recent Stars netball players visit, all helping to shine a light on our unique region, that we were proud to sponsor and help bring together.
Beyond the Chathams, our regional destinations are gearing up for a vibrant end to winter and the arrival of spring. Kāpiti will be buzzing with the upcoming Kāpiti Coast Art Trail and Food Fair. Whakatāne is preparing to welcome runners for the annual Toi’s Challenge, and Whanganui is also set to host some fantastic events such as the Whanganui Booklovers festival. Meanwhile, Auckland will, as always, be alive with energy as we edge into the warmer months.
This issue of the magazine shines a light on some incredible stories from across our regions, showcasing the innovation and passion found in even the most remote corners of Aotearoa. We feature the fascinating evolution of the world-renowned Tarahina Chatham Island honey, the rise of artisan alcoholic spirits from Kāpiti, and inspiring community-led efforts that are working hard to futureproof our world. From Kohutapu Lodge in the Eastern Bay, a place that’s far more than just a place to stay, to the dedicated work of the Chatham Island Land and Restoration Trust as they strive towards Predator Free 2050.
We look forward to continuing to connect you with the people and places that matter most. Thank you for flying with us, we really appreciate
Ka kite anō and safe travels!
Duane Emeny, Chief Executive Officer
Each year Air Chathams carries more than 110,000 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 linkedin.com/company/ air-chathams-limited
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
Looking out from atop the Durie Hill Elevator, credit Whanganui & Partners
Air Chats is published by Plenty Limited on behalf of Air Chathams Limited. Copyright 2025 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/ 2025
04 EVENTS/NEWS
The airline that brings New Zealand together.
08 BUILDING A PREDATOR-FREE FUTURE
A dedicated group are winding back the clock on Chathams pests, for a better future for us all.
14 SO CHEERS TO THAT
The Bond Store in Kāpiti are making spirits, and raising spirits, like nowhere else.
22 GOING UP
A perfectly executed update makes the Durie Hill Elevator ready for another 100 years.
30 A FAMILY AFFAIR
The Eastern Bay of Plenty’s Kohutapu Lodge redefines connecting through whānau and whenua.
36 BUSH, BEACH AND BEYOND
One of New Zealand’s first eco-tourism operators goes from strength to strength.
41 THE BEE WHISPERER
Kaai Silbery is a chef, a wild food aficionado, a businesswoman - and a bee whisperer.
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
Kāpiti Food Fair
Saturday, 6 December 2025 from 10am to 5pm rain or shine
Mazengarb Reserve Paraparaumu Kāpiti Coast
Early bird tickets from $15 Adults | $10 Gold Card or Student ID (sold online + booking fees), Free up to 12 years
Parking Gold Coin
Mark your calendar now for a standout food and beverage experience that leaves a lasting impression and will have you returning year after year. On the menu for 2025 are up to 250 vendor sites, a licenced bar and stage, Kāpiti Kitchen Demo Stage, free kid’s zone, buskers, and much more! The ultimate food festival with something for everyone is backed with a great vibe and professional entertainment to enjoy all day long.
Legally Blonde The Musical
Thursday, 2 October to Sunday,12 October 2025 Southwards Theatre, Paraparaumu Tickets are $35, more information at www.coastersmusicaltheatre.com
Coasters Musical Theatre presents “Legally Blonde the Musical”. This uplifting musical comedy follows Elle Woods’ incredible journey from fashionable sorority queen to Harvard Law student, filled with catchy songs, dazzling choreography, and plenty of pink power. Lauren Loghry makes her exciting Kāpiti debut as the determined and vivacious Elle Woods in this feel-good production that promises to entertain and inspire audiences of all ages.
Kāpiti Coast Art Trail
Saturday, 1 - Sunday, 2 November and Saturday, 8 - Sunday, 9 November 2025
www.kapiticoastarttrail.co.nz
Every November for 25 years, the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail has surprised and delighted with a wonderland of artist studios, galleries, and shared spaces.
Over two weekends, embark on a self-guided tour of discovery—an expedition to share with friends. Take a leisurely stroll through coastal gardens and arty enclaves, and be welcomed by artists and inspired by their work. This is a very popular event so start planning your trip right now!
World of WearableArt
Thursday, 18 September till Sunday, 5 October 2025
www.worldofwearableart.com
Every year, the world-renowned World of WearableArt (WOW) transforms Wellington into a stage of creativity and imagination, featuring multi-day shows where some of Aotearoa’s most talented designers unveil their most extraordinary wearable creations. More than just fashion, WOW is an immersive celebration of art, theatre, and dance — a truly unmissable experience. Make your artistic journey even more inspiring by flying with Air Chathams from Auckland to Wellington via Kāpiti, a vibrant artistic hub in its own right.
Six60 on the Chathams
Saturday, 6 December
Admiral Garden
Tickets at www.concertinthegarden.com/events
This December, experience an unforgettable night as Six60 brings their signature Kiwi sound to the Chatham Islands. Known for their high-energy shows and loyal following, Six60 has cemented their place as one of Aotearoa’s most loved live acts. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just keen for a good time, this gig is not to be missed. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Chathams, it’s more than a concert — it’s a full-on island experience. Lock it in and get ready for a night to remember.
WELLINGTON
CHATHAM ISLANDS
Heylo Silversmith and Jeweller
AUCKLAND
BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival
Saturday, 11 October and Sunday, 12 October
Aotea Square, Auckland www.aucklandnz.com/diwali
The BNZ Auckland Diwali Festival 2024 returns to Tāmaki Makaurau this October with two incredible days of live music, dance, and mouthwatering Indian treats.
The festival has expanded this year, making this event bigger and better than ever! Visitors can look forward to enjoying activities on Lorne Street, within the Central City Library, and inside the Aotea Centre.
This event is free to attend and is a family-friendly, smoke-free, alcohol-free, and vegetarian event.
Pink Ribbon Walk
Sunday, 5 October 2025
Auckland Domain https://fundraise.bcf.org.nz/event/pinkribbonwalk Dust off your pinkest outfit and join thousands as we walk for our loved ones. The fun kicks off at 1:30pm with pre-event entertainment featuring a live DJ, fantastic freebies from our sponsors and a fun warm-up session to get you pumped for the walk at 2.00pm. Whether you choose the 5km or 10km route, this event is all about community and coming together.
So, gather your whānau, friends, and teammates, get your tickets, and help raise vital funds for breast cancer research, education, and support. And yes, your furry friends are welcome too!
Cirque Du Soleil
Thursday, 30 October till Sunday, 9 November 2025 www.cirquedusoleil.com/new-zealand Perennial crowd-pleasers Cirque Du Soleil return with Corteo, a surreal celebration of life that blends grandeur with intimacy, humour with sorrow, and celebrates the clown’s strength, vulnerability, wisdom, and humanity, all set to whimsical, poetic music.
Toi’s Challenge
Sunday, 16 November 2025
www.toischallenge.weebly.com
Held every November, Toi’s Challenge is one of Whakatāne’s most iconic annual events. It follows the beautiful Nga Tāpuwae o Toi track, which, at 18km, is a bit shorter than a half-marathon but the rugged terrain makes it a good deal harder. The stunning coastal and bush scenery provides plenty of distractions if you need it. The event is run by the Whakatāne Athletics and Harriers Club.
Lit. Whanganui Booklovers Festival
Friday, 19 till Sunday, 21 September 2025
www.literaryfestival.co.nz
A vibrant biennial celebration of books, ideas, and conversation, hosted in one of Aotearoa’s most creative communities. Held in venues throughout the Pukenamu precinct we’re sure you’ll find something to delight, challenge, or surprise you! Readers and writers gather for author talks, panel discussions, workshops, and social events in welcoming heritage venues near the river. The Festival showcases local voices alongside some of the country’s most celebrated authors. Whether you’re a passionate booklover or a curious newcomer, Lit. Whanganui offers a rich, thought-provoking experience in a city known for its arts and hospitality.
Whanganui
Vintage Weekend
Saturday, 17 till Tuesday, 20 January 2025 www.whanganuivintageweekend.nz
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 travellers of any age and interest. This celebration of all things vintage takes place over Wellington Anniversary Weekend.
Building a predator-free future
Down at the bottom of the world, Aotearoa
New Zealand has always had to contend with what Split Enz called ‘the tyranny of distance’, and no part of the country is more distant than the Chatham Islands. The Islands’ splendid isolation brings many challenges to be sure, but it also offers opportunities, and the Chatham Islands Landscape Restoration Trust is seizing an opportunity to restore nature’s gifts to the islands by removing some of the predators that have made it over from the mainland.
Chatham Islands
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
Te Whanga mouth - Hikurangi channel and Waikawa Island (Chatham Islands)
Christchurch
Wellington
“Nearly 10% of Aotearoa’s endangered species live on the Chathams”
Formed in 2019, the small Trust has settled in for a long game. They have spent four years engaging with the community and figuring out what the best way forward is, literally getting the lay of the land. Now they are beginning the next phase of their project, working towards the eradication of feral cats, rats and possums in the north-east of Chatham Island, which will serve as a pilot project to help build knowledge and inform future work. This area is a microcosm of the Chathams: a mix of habitats, forest remnants, wetlands, fresh water lakes, sandy beaches, and rocky shores. It was once home to an impressive range of wildlife and could be again soon.
The opportunity that the Chathams presents is that, given its isolation and lack of some of the predators that plague the mainland, like stoats, once the aforementioned pests have been eliminated, the chances of their repopulating are greatly reduced - unless the destructive critters learn to swim 785 kilometres.
The Summit, The Pyramid. Credit Dave Boyle
It is fitting that the community engagement stage has been carried out by team member Hamish Chisolm. A sixth-generation islander, now raising his own family there, Hamish’s passion for the Chatham Islands is both personal and professional. He has been involved in conservation on the island for most of his life, and his current role as Project Coordinator allows him to work with the community to bring to life a project that will make a monumental change.
“The initial part of the project involved a lot of cups of tea in a lot of kitchens!” says Hamish. “But seeing as around 95% of Chatham Island is privately owned, it’s really important everyone gets a chance to be part of this work. This will be a long, intergenerational project, so we need to have as many people with us from the start to make sure it carries on into the future. And understanding and respecting cultural practices and beliefs is an important part of our ethos.”
The Trust’s vision has been created alongside Hokotehi Moriori Trust and Ngāti Mutunga o Wharekauri Iwi Trust, and is supported by Chatham Islands Council, Predator Free Chathams 2050 Limited, Air Chathams and the Department of Conservation. It’s a big group of collaborators, but it’s a big job and there are some hi-tech tools to take to it. Self-resetting AT220 trap
“I just kind of fell in love with the islands. There’s something about this remote, wild place that gets under your skin”
Pitt Island shag at Point Munning
“The new AT220 traps we’re using are self-resetting,” Hamish says, “so once in place they can kill up to 100 predators before needing to be serviced. They automatically release a lure and the trap is triggered by an eye-beam, so no need for the possum or rat to actually contact the lure. And they can be put on trees or posts so that the ground-dwelling native species are out of harm’s way.
“We’re taking lessons on board from other predator programmes, and what we learn from predator control on the Chathams can be applied not only to mainland New Zealand but around the world.”
The Trust’s other staff member, Jess MacKenzie, may not be a sixth generation native to the Chathams, but she shares the passion of Hamish and the Board’s Trustees. Jess has worked and volunteered for environmental and educational organisations in New Zealand and the UK and enjoys getting hands-on with conservation when she can. She visited the Chathams in 2019 and the bug bit hard.
“The initial part of the project involved a lot of cups of tea in a lot of kitchens!”
Hamish
Chisholm
helping with eDNA freshwater sampling. Credit Milly Farquhar
“We’re taking lessons on board from other predator programmes, and what we learn from predator control on the Chathams can be applied not only to mainland New Zealand but around the world.”
NO PESTS PLEASE
Help keep our islands unique by Checking your belongings for any contaminants BEFORE arriving in the Chatham Islands
BEFORE arriving on The Chathams... CHECK, CLEAN AND DRY
Footwear
Outdoor clothing
Dive gear
“Like so many people,” Jess says, “I just kind of fell in love with the islands. There’s something about this remote, wild place that gets under your skin.
“Nearly 10% of Aotearoa’s endangered species live on the Chathams - from birds to beetles and plants - and there are multiple species found nowhere else in Aotearoa, let alone the world. But it’s not just about protecting the unique nature; it’s the future sustainability for the community that call these islands home.”
And the great thing about this project is that all Kiwis, anywhere, can be a part of it. You can help fund the project, help purchase more traps to help hit more rodents, or just help spread the word; get on over to www.chathamrestorationtrust.org.nz to find out more.
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.
For more information or advice please scan the QR code or contact a Chatham Islands Biosecurity O cer: Phone. 03 305 0013 info@chathamislands.govt.nz
w.cic.govt.nz
N A CAVERNOUS CEMENT BUILDING in the industrial heart of Paraparaumu, there is a vibrant splash of colour, a tangible sense of fun, and innovation hangs heavy in the air; huge copper contraptions glisten, inflatable pink flamingoes watch from the roof, and there is even a disco ball to boot. This is The Bond Store, purveyors of some of the country’s best gin, home to one of our few female distillers, and the engine room of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most eco-focused makers of fine spirits. This is a Kāpiti Coast company that does things differently.
Founded by Bec Kay and Chris Barber, The Bond Store is like few other distilleries, but then Chris and Bec are like few other distillers. Chris comes from a business development background, and Bec was previously a theatre nurse; it should also be mentioned that their 16 year daughter acted as Sustainability Officer and Chris’s sister has also joined the fray.
“It started back in 2017. We’d been commuting to work in opposite directions and felt a change was in order, but it wasn’t so much a lightbulb moment as a gin bottle moment!” The couple had initially sort change by purchasing a limoncello business, but they soon got feedback that gin was where it was at. “We had an award winning limoncello,” Chris says, “but the market had moved and so we knew we had to do a bit of a pivot.”
Pivoting is something the Kāpiti Coast seems to do well. Business innovation is a given there, with all manner of businesses choosing it as the location for trying something new.
Bec Kay at The Bond Store
“We don’t want our sustainability to be about being seen to be green, we want to incorporate it into our way of business”
“There’s a reason for that,” says Chris, “or at least what I believe is the reason. This was a small community that had ten thousand US servicemen arrive during the war and there had a to be a lot of innovation and making it up as you go along to feed and house and accommodate them. And I think that kind of set a tone for doing things differently, for trying new things, that has continued today. I guess it’s kind of part of the DNA, you know, where we’ve always been a community of people that work for ourselves and just get on and do things.”
Life is too short for average
That ethos pretty much sums up The Bond Store’s approach to sustainability, which is dear to the heart of the team.
“We don’t want our sustainability to be about being seen to be green, we want to incorporate it into our way of business, as a functional part of our business. A few years back we were beginning to grow and went to order more bottles, only to be told that because of COVID and supply chain issues we were looking at a year-long wait. Which got us thinking; some of the bars we supply were going through a lot of our vodka, and the bottles were going straight into the recycling - so why couldn’t we recycle them by cleaning them and refilling them? So we now have reusable plastic crates for picking up the empties, we double sanitise them, and they are ready to go round again!”
Whether you’re chasing waves, or chilling under the coastal glow, weekends here are full of laid back vibes and a sense of freedom. Here, you can rediscover your magic.
Whip up to the Kāpiti Coast - visitkapiti.co.nz
Similarly, The Bond Store sources its alcohol base from whey, a dairy byproduct, instead of importing it from abroad; the latter is in fact cheaper, but the former sits better with Chris and Bec. “It just seems crazy to be shipping something in from overseas when we can be using a byproduct from another industry here in New Zealand,” Chris says. “Why plant a paddock of wheat when we can use something that’s already out there?”
And why ship your vodka in a cardboard box when you can distribute it in a handmade timber box that becomes a rat trap for helping to rid our native forests of rodents. Because that is what The Bond Store does.
All of this kind of sustainability is about working smarter at The Bond Store, but their real reason for being is, in their words, to be a ‘makery of spirits’, both the bottled kind - and the kind that lives within us humans. And that they certainly are.
“We like to say that ‘Life is too short for average’,” says Chris. “And that we want to be pure, not precious.” This manifests in a repertoire of tasty tipples like a Kāpiti Coast Vodka and Kawakawa Gin, with the
“It
just seems crazy to be shipping something in from overseas when we can be using a byproduct from another industry here in New Zealand”
Kawakawa sourced from the couple’s farm, and canned cocktails like Miss Sunset (featuring Kawakawa Gin, Koakoa Orangecello, blood orange, lime and lemonade) and Ms Cosmo (Kāpiti Coast Vodka, Koakoa Orangecello, rhubarb, raspberry, rose hip and tonic).
The really cool part is that you can see how all this goodness is made with a tour of The Bond Store, soak up the vibe, and enjoy tastings and cellar door sales while you’re there. It’s another great reason to see how they roll on the Kāpiti Coast.
With successful events in Whanganui, Kāpiti, and now Tauranga, each Taste Festival is thoughtfully curated to bring together local producers, food trucks and live music in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Check out our VIP/Corporate tickets/tables. Includes:
A festive lunch, two signature cocktails, and access to our exclusive VIP area – complete with premium seating, shade & great vibes. Email us to discuss how we can accommodate your team!
Tauranga - 6th December, The Waterfront
Whanganui - 13th December, Majestic Square
Kāpiti - 20th December, Southward Car Museum (all events run between 12pm - 5pm)
Planning the Christmas Work do? Taste festivals are a perfect end of year celebration! Tickets
A Quarter Century of Creativity
Welcome to a coast alive with colour, connection, and creativity.
Since 2001, the Kāpiti Coast Art Trail has been opening studio doors, hearts and minds across this stunning coastal district just north of Wellington. This November, the iconic event marks 25 years of celebrating local artists, welcoming visitors, and championing creativity from Paekākāriki to Ōtaki.
What began as a grassroots weekend of art and community spirit has grown into one of New Zealand’s largest and most-loved open studio trails. Over the weekends of 1–2 and 8–9 November 2025 more than 140 artists will share their spaces, stories, and work with thousands of visitors. From painters, sculptors, and jewellers to photographers, textile designers and ceramicists, every stop is a chance to meet the maker, see the magic behind the work, and maybe take something special home.
Alayna Flighty - Holtom’s Art Studio
Jenny and Tanya Shearer
The Art Trail is about connection, between people and place, artist and audience, past and present. Long-time participants like Diane Connal, the only artist to have exhibited every year since 2001, have helped shape the Art Trail into what it is today: a vibrant celebration of creativity woven into the fabric of the Kāpiti Coast.
Kāpiti Coast is a destination in itself, known for its beaches, boutique food and beverage offerings, relaxed pace, and strong creative soul. Whether you’re lingering in a sunny studio courtyard, wandering a coastal gallery, or refuelling at a local café, the Art Trail invites you to slow down, explore, and connect.
With so much to see, staying a night or two is a smart move. Choose a cosy bach or leisure in luxury lodges, either way Kāpiti has you covered. Just don’t wait too long to book, accommodation fills fast during the Art Trail.
So, this spring, skip the city and take the coastal road. Art, nature, and friendly faces await. Come for the creativity and stay for the Kāpiti magic. Proudly brought to you by Kāpiti Coast District Council.
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Capture Studios
Capture Studios
Going
“The Elevator is unique in that it’s a piece of history, but also still a functioning piece of public transport”
It’s one of the oldest - and arguably the most quirkiest - pieces of public transport in the country if not the southern hemisphere, and now it’s back, better than ever, and offering not just a totally unique trip to a fantastic Whanganui lookout, but a look into the city’s past, present and the history of town planning in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s the Durie Hill Elevator and it’s a national treasure.
Construction of the Durie Hill Elevator’s 213 metre long, three metre high entrance tunnel and 65.8 metre elevator shaft connecting the Whanganui town centre to the eastern hills began in 1916. It would ultimately consume 2,500 tons of reinforced concrete, and this was no small undertaking at that time with a war raging in Europe and manpower being syphoned off to feed it. But Whanganui was a burgeoning regional centre and one of its newest suburbs - Durie Hill - was being modelled by notable town planner and architect Samuel Hurst-Seager as the place to be. Seager was a pioneer of the classic Kiwi bungalow and envisioned Durie Hill as a thoroughly modern marvel looking out over the growing city.
It was built as transport to integrate residential living with access to the town centre.
The problem was that getting there from the town centre meant climbing a 191 step staircase (which is still there today if you’re tired of your StairMaster), at a time when few people had automobiles. A cable car was mooted, but Wanganui Chronicle editor John Ball and his friend, Technical School engineering instructor Edward Crow, thought something with a bit more panache was in order and proposed the tunnel and elevator combination.
Then, when ratepayers were not prepared to pay for the project, with the can-do attitude typical of the time and the city, the private Durie Town Elevator Company was formed and work got underway.
The tunnel was an elegant whitewashed affair with the elevator panelled in dark wood, carpeted, and powered by 500 volts sourced from the city’s tramway system. When the tramway was decommissioned in 1950 a ‘mercury arc rectifier’ was installed to convert power from the national grid to the required current, and this rare piece of equipment is still in use today, looking remarkably like an early prototype of the flux capacitor powering the DeLorean in Back to the Future.
19—21 Sept 2025
Book
now at literaryfestival.co.nz
Dame Anne Salmond | Damien Wilkins |
Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku | Gavin Bishop |
Airana Ngarewa | Suzanne Lynch | Monty Soutar |
Louise Wallace | Airini Beautrais | Lance Burdett
By 1919 it was done, and its completion allowed Seager’s dream, the first truly modern New Zealand urban development, to get underway as the delightfully named Durie Hill Garden Suburb.
Designed according to garden-city planning principles, it included curvilinear streets, reserves, and recreational amenities like croquet lawns and tennis courts, all conveniently located on the flood-free heights above the Whanganui River, the brave new world of residential convenience looking out over the bustle of industry below. The elevator was not only a hit with residents, however, it also proved a popular visitor destination, and - never one to miss a trick - Seager put advertisements for the Garden Suburb on the back of the elevator tickets, inviting those that came to see the 1920s technological marvel to come and live the new gold dream.
Anthonie Tonnon at the Durie Hill Elevator
The Elevator is still something of a marvel in the 2020s. A major upgrade in 2024 has not only restored its former glory but added state-of-the-art multimedia to bring alive the journey and make the guided tours of the elevator into a Whanganui must-see: a futuristic lightshow rolls down the tunnel as you walk, and historic photos projected onto the walls bring the guided tours - hosted by elevator operator Anthonie Tonnon - alive with tales of the Elevator, the suburb development and the history of Whanganui.
Better known to many as a successful musician, Tonnon has called Whanganui home since 2017 and picked up the Elevator gig through a love of history, classic technology and the way we interact with where we live.
“The Elevator is unique in that it’s a piece of history, but also still a functioning piece of public transport,” he says. “Every day around 100 people ride it, carrying on over 100 years of the Elevator being integral to Whanganui.”
From new builds to renovations and light commercial work, we put care and attention into every project. Big or small, your project deserves expert craftsmanship, and we’re here to deliver it—creating spaces you’ll love to live and work in. Let’s make something amazing together.
“I guess you can say it’s a part of history, but it’s also still a really relevant part of people’s lives today, whether you’re a visitor to Whanganui and wanting to get up to the War Memorial Tower or a local just wanting to get to work in town without driving. It was built as transport to integrate residential living with access to the town centre, and I think we can still learn a lot from it. Is public transport the add-on to urban development, or is it the integral part of it? In this case - a private developer decided it was the first thing that needed to be built.”
And therein lies the beauty of the Durie Hill Elevator. It’s the past in black and white faces projected on a wall, the present in a living and wonderfully sustainable piece of engineering that is keeping on keeping on, and the future, pointing to how we can better build the places we call home.
The light at the end of the Durie Hill Elevator tunnel (left), leads to spectacular views of Whanganui (above).
Make it a ______ kind of weekend made for wandering rich in creativity full of small discoveries easy to enjoy all of the above
discoverwhanganui.nz
A FAMILY affair
Nestled by the serene Lake Aniwhenua, and run by a family eager to share hospitality, knowledge, stories and their piece of paradise, Kohutapu Lodge is a one-of-a-kind destination in the eastern Bay of Plenty. It’s moremuch more - than a place to stay.
Lake Aniwhenua, about 45 minutes south of Whakatāne, is a manmade lake situated on the Murupara plains. Rich in birdlife and native flora and fauna, it is also rich in history and for 12 years the ToeToe family have been sharing that history with visitors from around the world. Husband and wife team Nadine ‘Nades’ ToeToe and Karl ‘Top Gun’ ToeToe are the owner/ operators of Kohutapu who saw an opportunity for a get-away-from-it-all destination that would share the untold beauty of their tribal lands, focusing not on luxury but on the richness of authentic Māori life.
“The goal was to provide a transformative, immersive experience,” Nadine says, “one where visitors not only learn about Māori culture but also contribute positively to the community and environment. We feel that tourism should be transformative, authentic, and sustainable, and that it can have a positive impact on the land and the community we cherish. Tourism - around the world - has a bad name for its impact on the environment and local communities, and we thought it doesn’t have to be that way, tourism can be a very positive thing. And we set out to prove that.”
Nadine has extensive experience in tourism, having studied it at university, been a part of regional tourism operators and worked at Rotorua’s Tamaki Village and Hell’s Gate. Karl, who comes from a background in forestry and as an agriculture equipment operator, is in charge of maintaining the lodge, laying the hangi - and basically making sure everyone is having a good time. Add in Karl’s Dad, Maurice - Koro - who as kaumatua is on the frontline of
“We feel that tourism should be transformative, authentic, and sustainable”
everything related to local iwi Ngāti Manawa, Aunty Hine keeping the machine oiled from the front desk, and Nadine and Karl’s kids and it’s clear this is a real family affair.
It’s genesis was also something of a leap of faith. “To be honest, when we went into this we just thought ‘what’s the worst that could happen we’re not gonna die from trying!’’’ says Nadine. “When we decided to do this, we knew because of our community and the region and the homelands that we did not want to duplicate anything that was being done around cultural performance or concert shows. We wanted to provide an experience that was just based on real life and allowing visitors to walk in our footsteps and alongside of us, and immerse themselves in our community. So we provided cultural tours through our lands, visiting the oldest rock carvings in New Zealand, interactive cultural activities, hangi, storytelling and a big one for us is really talking about how we harnessed tourism for good and give back to our community.”
“We wanted to provide an experience that was just based on real life and allowing visitors to walk in our footsteps and alongside of us, and immerse themselves in our community”
For Kohutapu Lodge, giving back means providing meals for families in need, jobs for locals, and an extensive youth mentoring programme that sees them hosting life skills courses for young people, reconnecting them to the land and basics like gathering and preparing kai and working as a team.
“We live in a world that is pretty manufactured, and when you visit a foreign country or even a part of your own country you’ve never experienced before, what you want is to live the reality. And that authenticity is what we’re all about”
The programmes have been so successful that they have seen groups travelling through New Zealand and also visiting indigenous communities in Australia, Canada and Vanuatu.
The ToeToes are proponents of the traditional Māori proverb that ‘The kumara doesn’t boast of its own sweetness’, but they do have a fair bit to boast about. The Lodge has picked up the 2022 Supreme New Zealand Tourism Award and the 2024 Māori Tourism Award to name just a few accolades, and they were even invited to the world Indigenous Tourism Summit to share their story.
“I think what is connecting with people is the authenticity,” Nadine says. “We live in a world that is pretty manufactured, and when you visit a foreign country or even a part of your own country you’ve never experienced before, what you want is to live the reality. And that authenticity is what we’re all about. Come and join us gathering kai, preparing it in the kitchen, sit around the fire and tell us your stories and hear ours, experience a real hangi. Walk the Whirinaki with us, enjoy the natural healing properties that our taiao (environment) provided for generations before us.”
With Kohutapu you can stay at the Lodge with packages from one night up to longer stays, and they can arrange a stay on a real living local marae where you’ll be welcomed on and versed in the protocols of a very special place. It really is more than just a place to stay.
Nades and Top Gun in action
Bush, beach and beyond
“It’s all new and interesting, and it’s quite natural to want to share that wonder with others”
FOR OVER 40 YEARS
AUCKLAND-BASED tour company Bush and Beach has been providing guided tours of Auckland environs like Piha, as well as Hobbiton, the Waitomo Caves and the Matakana wine region, all focused on being environmentally friendly and sustainable. Their ‘take only photos and leave only footprints’ ethos has earned them the title of Aotearoa New Zealand’s longest-running eco tour company - and plaudits from Kiwis and overseas visitors alike. But the company is not just about protecting our natural environment, it’s about helping to restore it.
Bush and Beach was bought by brother and sister team Ben Thornton and Penny Mitchell in 2013, and the pair have continued to grow the company’s selection of tours - and its reputationsince then. Ben, who was born in the UK but raised in New Zealand, lived in Japan for many years before returning to New Zealand and working in the tourism industry, so taking the reins at Bush and Beach seemed a natural step. And having picked up a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024, he’s clearly doing something right.
“The company was started 41 years ago by some environmentally aware people from West Auckland,” says Tony Dunn, who has been a tour guide at Bush and Beach for over 10 years. “The company has always had that eco ethos since the start, and it really has just been an intuitive process since then. But I suppose just over the past probably 15 years, we’ve ramped that up, and we’ve gone, okay, we really need to walk the talk.”
“We were taking people for walks in the bush and it was great, except it was pretty darn quiet from a bird life point of view. So that’s when we started working with the rangers out there and setting trap lines, which we maintain to this day. At Piha, where we do most of our tours, we look after, monitor and clear trap linesprimarily targeting rats, but if we’re lucky we get a stoat every now and again!
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“We were taking people for walks in the bush and it was great, except it was pretty darn quiet from a bird life point of view. So that’s when we started working with the rangers out there and setting trap lines”
“There was a major possum eradication programme a few years ago that really knocked that population down, so we’re fortunate in that regard. And we’re really seeing the bird life and the bird song return!”
Tony - like the rest of the Bush and Beach team - has a real passion and connection to the places he guides visitors through, having lived in Piha for 27 years. It is literally his backyard. “It has a really nice community, and yet it is still this wild place.
Tony Dunn waging war on rats
“The company has always had that eco ethos since the start, and it really has just been an intuitive process since then”
A lot of people have seen it on TV and know about it, but then when you get out there, it’s like ‘Whoa, yeah!’. When we are driving out in the bus and I’m talking about it, people are all nodding along, but when it first drops into view their faces just light up and they suddenly realise I wasn’t just bigging it up! It’s a genuine ‘Oooooh’ moment! And our team just love sharing those - that’s what it’s all about.”
In addition to the obvious Kiwis, the Bush and Beach team is a veritable United Nations. “Yeah we’re pretty international. We’ve got Aussies, Germans, English. And it’s so interesting that the people from overseas gravitate towards showing this country off. I was born in Australia, grew up in England, and I think that because of that we see New Zealand through a different lens. It’s all new and interesting, and it’s quite natural to want to share that wonder with others.”
Bush and Beach has also expanded beyond its name and developed tours of Auckland, which are extremely popular with overseas visitors - but also a bit of an eye-opener for Kiwis.
“The city tours are great for people who have just arrived and want to kind of get a feel for the city and what it has to offer, because when you arrive in a city, it can be a bit daunting sometimes. We try to give them an overview of the city, but also just get them slightly off the beaten track; for example we go to Narrow Neck Beach, where there’s an amazing cafe run by the lovely Josie, so that we’re not only getting people to places besides Devonport and the usual destinations, but supporting a cool little local business. We also work with the maunga authorities so we have access to the city’s mountains, which even for Kiwis is kind of special.”
“We like to say that the city tours show you where Auckland likes to live and play, and it’s always great when Kiwis from outside the city come away with a new appreciation of its history and why so many of us like to call this place home.”
THE BEE Whisperer
Famed for decades for its rich sea food resources, the Chatham Islands are now gaining acclaim for a completely different taste sensation: honey. And the work of the Chathams’ humble honey bees could, in addition to becoming a growing industry, have global impact as the world’s pollinators struggle with pests and pesticides.
“The Chathams are one of the few places left on earth that have disease-free bees,” says Kaai Silbery, a beekeeper and chef who is the first person to export Chathams honey commercially under her Tarahina Honey brand. “British black bees were first brought here in the 1800s, then in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, and then my great uncle Mana Cracknell, who was one of the kaumātua beekeepers on the island, introduced the Italian honey bee to diversify the DNA stock. Because of that and because of our geographical isolation, Chathams bees don’t suffer from AFB or the varroa mite.”
“At my apiary we target the Tarahina tree specifically, and it gives the honey a very special flavour. It has a citrus note, and also a hint of caramel, so it’s quite different to say something like Mānuka”
The AFB Kaai refers to is American Foulbrood, a highly contagious and destructive bacteria that attacks honey bee larvae and pupae. It is the most serious honey bee disease in New Zealand and around the world; there is no cure for AFB, and infected colonies must be destroyed or sterilized to prevent the spread of the disease. AFB, together with the varroa mite - a parasite that attacks honey bees - are decimating bee populations overseas, causing serious concern not only for the honey industry but for the wider agricultural industry that relies on bees to pollinate crops. The Chathams AFB and varroa-free bees puts them in a unique position, but their honey is also unique - so much so that work is currently underway at Waikato University to look in to just how special it is.
We’ve been cooking with cold rather than heat for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until the Apollo moon programme that freeze-dried food really took off.
“We have 47 endemic plant species on the island that are found nowhere else in the world,” Kaai says. “At my apiary we target the Tarahina tree specifically, and it gives the honey a very special flavour. It has a citrus note, and also a hint of caramel, so it’s quite different to say something like Mānuka.”
Tarahina, or Tarahinau to Moriori, is quite different itself. To survive the wild and wonderful conditions of Rēkohu it has become what is called a heteroblasty; when young it is stout with sword-like leaves but when it reaches flowering age, it dramatically transforms into a scraggly tree with tufts of narrow, needle-like foliage and sprays of white summer flowers like a wild heather.
It is those flowers that the Chathams bees love so much, and now Kaai’s Tarahina Honey is helping the wider world fall in love with their handiwork. Having majored in food science and culinary arts at university, Kaai is familiar with freeze-drying foods to lock in all their goodness and flavour. As she says, we’ve been cooking with cold rather than heat for hundreds of years, but it wasn’t until the Apollo moon programme that freeze-dried food really took off.
At Tarahina Honey, the result is a space-age, almost candy floss like honey that melts in the mouth. In addition to making for a great healthy sweet treat, the freeze dried Tarahina is proving popular as a fine dining ingredientand as head chef at the Chathams Kopi Bush Retreat, Kaai knows exactly what it can do.
“Tarahina works in both sweet and savoury dishes and I use it at the lodge in many of the dishes. Because it is freeze dried it can be used as a garnish as well as an ingredient, and I think there has been a real shift in recent years with chefs looking to use more natural ingredients, particularly in Māori and Pacifika food, that is seems to fit with really well.
“Getting back to fresh local food is what we’re all about at the Retreat - crayfish and blue cod from the sea, mutton straight from the paddock, fresh veggies from the landit’s a bit of a blessing we’re rediscovering.”
That’s a focus that saw Kaai pick up a win at the Whakatāne Wild Food Festival - she’ll be back as a judge this year! - and a gold medal at the 2021 Apiculture New Zealand Honey Awards and a silver at the 2020 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards. And Tarahina Honey is just getting started, with a host of new products in the pipeline.
If you want to find out what all the fuss is about, head to oyster-moon.com where you can buy Kaai’s honey, sherbet and honey-soy seasoning.
direct from Christchurch or Manapouri and discover the magic of the Chathams — a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
evening entertainment with live music by Chris McHardy.
Our fleet
Air Chathams has a fleet of 9 aircraft, ranging from single-engine light planes to turbo-prop 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
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 40 years we’ve been bringing New Zealand together.
Auckland
Tāmaki Makaurau
Whakatāne -
Kāpiti Coast
Chatham Islands
Christchurch
Wellington
Whanganui
The home of Air Chathams
The Chatham Islands are New Zealand’s most eastern islands, located over 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of southern New Zealand. About 600 people live on the two largest islands, Chatham and Pitt, and we have officially been a part of New Zealand since 1842.
The islands are volcanic in origin with diverse landscapes and a fascinating history, renowned for a bountiful seafood industry and conservation efforts protecting many rare and endangered species.
Top tips before making a visit:
• No passport is necessary when flying from New Zealand.
• Electricity is standard for New Zealand at 240 volts AC, but can be unreliable so we recommend surge protection on your devices.
• Pack clothing for variable weather. Think layers and protection from the sun, wind and rain. Sturdy walking shoes are recommended.
• The Chatham Islands are 45 mins ahead of mainland New Zealand standard time.
• There are no shuttles or taxis. Transport from the airline needs to be arranged with your accommodation as will any rental vehicle prior to your visit.
• Check with your accommodation provider about any specialist needs or allergies as the Chatham Islands often have limited supplies for specific requirements.
• There is a small hospital with a resident doctor and nurses available. Air Chathams always recommends travel insurance for any air travel.
• With deep family connections and local heritage, many places of interest are on private land and require the owner’s permission to visit. If you are unsure, please ask first.
Air Chathams brings New Zealand together! We’re the country’s largest privately owned airline, flying to some of New Zealand’s best regional destinations, and our inflight magazine Air Chats is a great way to build your brand and your business. We’d love to have you on board, so get in touch to find out about advertising - and come fly with us.
airchats@plenty.co.nz
Fly with us and experience what the Chatham Islands has to offer.
