On the drive to Cape Reinga

A real surprise today was catching Salt Air's Bell 206L-3 LongRanger ZK-IJH at Waitiki on 15 November 2022. From here it is about 20km to the Cape.

Also on the Waitiki strip on 15 November 2022 was Salt Air's Gippsland Airvan ZK-MAB. Now, if I can get the Widgeon ZK-CFA at Kerikeri I will be really wrapped!

Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 ZK-ISS was hunting something between Waitiki and the Cape on 15 November 2022. Unfortunately we couldn't stop - camera outside the window

So any ideas what this is??? HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT... it is a probe for measuring aquifer flows... there has been a massive avocado orchard expansion north of Kaitaia and they are concerned about salt water getting into the aquifers.