Hokitika on SPANZ's Figure 8 Route

 

One of Hokitika's most unusual air services was South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand's weekly service through Hokitika that only operated for 11 weeks. 

While Hokitika was not one of SPANZ's first destinations it was in the company's sights from its inception. On the 22nd of October 1959 the Press reported that air links between cities and small centres not yet served or likely to be served in the near future by the National Airways Corporation are proposed by a new organisation which two N.A.C. senior flight captains hope to promote. South Pacific Airlines, Ltd., will put its proposals before the Air Services Licensing Authority in Wellington on November 2. It is reported to have an option on a fleet of DC-3 aircraft converted to have landscape windows. The captains’ idea is to run an airport to airport service and interest rental car or tax. services to provide airport to township transport for their passengers. The two N.A.C. pilots promoting the venture are Captains R. A. L. Anderson and R. D. Daniell. The venture is understood to have the blessing of the N.A.C., which is said to be providing relevant information, including estimated operating costs. Required capital is £75.000, and it is said that £20,000 has already been promised. Routes which South Pacific Airlines hopes to serve include the following centres: Auckland, Matamata, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Hokitika, Invercargill, Alexandra, Timaru, Christchurch. Blenheim, Wellington, Masterton. Napier, and Oamaru.

The flights through Hokitika were part of the application for non-scheduled passenger and freight routes that could be only operated in one direction...

(a) Auckland, Matamata, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Hokitika, Invercargill. 

(b) Invercargill, Alexandra, Timaru, Christchurch, Blenheim, Wellington, Masterton, Napier, Matamata, Auckland. 

(c) Auckland, Matamata, Hamilton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Alexandra, Invercargill. 

Non-scheduled route (a) offered passengers a scenic spectacular flying down the West Coast, flying past over the rivers and forests, the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers and then along the southern fiords flying up the Milford Sound and across Lake Te Anau and Manapouri to Invercargill. Route (c) was possibly for one of the rare days it was raining on the West Coast and the flight couldn't operate. 

In December 1960 South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand operated some route proving flights. On the 10th of December 1960 SPANZ’s Douglas DC-3 Viewmaster ZK-BYD, under the command of Captains Bob Anderson, Rex Daniell and Bill Pattie, with Tui Barclay and Jan Macken looking after the cabin, operated a Auckland-Hamilton-Masterton-Wellington-Christchurch-Oamaru-Alexandra flight. On board were 32 passengers who were mainly airline executives and North Island travel agents. 

The next day, the 11th of December, the DC-3 returned to Auckland, via Hokitika, Nelson and Matamata. The first sector from Alexandra to Hokitika saw the DC-3 overfly Queenstown and Milford Sound before flying up the West Coast in perfect weather. On board the flight was a Whites Aviation photographer who captured these photos of the flight to Hokitika

Towards Milford Sound. Photo : Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library

Mount Aspiring. Photo : Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library

South Westland. Photo : Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library

Mount Cook. Photo : Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library

Obviously not the same day, but a nice shot of SPANZ's Douglas DC-3 ZK-BYD passing Mount Cook

On approach to Hokitika, presumably on finals for Runway 13. Photo : Whites Aviation, Alexander Turnbull Library

SPANZ Douglas DC-3 Viewmaster ZK-BYD at Hokitika on 11 December 1960. Photo : Whites Aviation Collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

A glimpse inside the cabin of ZK-BYD the day before.

Despite the success of the proving flight it was not until the 7th of October 1961 that South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand introduced a weekend ‘Figure 8 Route’ package, flying Auckland - Matamata - Hamilton - Napier - Masterton - Blenheim - Nelson - Hokitika - Invercargill on Saturdays, continuing Invercargill - Alexandra - Oamaru - Timaru - Christchurch - Nelson - Auckland the next day - all for £35. The first flight was flown under the command of Captains Rex Daniell and Bob Anderson.

SPANZ Figure 8 advertising

Richard Waugh and Peter Layne's definitive book on South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand, SPANZ - South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand and their DC-3 Viewmasters records the first flight into Hokitika.  The 'Figure 8 Route'... inaugural flight carried many guests including the Vice President of the large Matson Shipping Lines of America who later commented, "There is nothing like this scenery anywhere else in the world." The Figure 8 route was promoted as "The first New Zealand air tour to fly over the whole of New Zealand from Auckland - for £35 return." A noteworthy stop-over was made at Hokitika, which came onto the published SPANZ timetable for the first time. A West Coast civic welcome was given, which included sampling the local delicacy of whitebait. Bob Anderson thanked the locals for their welcome and assured them that such regular tourist flights would be a boost to the West Coast economy and that Hokitika should go ahead with the building of motels and hotels as the region had a very bright tourism future.

Unfortunately for SPANZ the Air Services Licensing Authority withdrew its approval for the Nelson-Hokitika-Invercargill sectors on the 21st of December 1961. The final service through Hokitika was operated on the 23rd of December 1961. 

On the 27th of December 1961 the Christchurch Press reported that South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand has appealed against the decision of the Air Services Licensing Authority to withdraw the company’s licence to fly between Hokitika and Invercargill. Captain R. Anderson, the operations manager, said that the flight across the foot of the Southern Alps and over the Sounds was one of the airline’s major drawcards for tourists, especially those from overseas. He said the last flight was made last weekend. Captain Anderson said the authority has told the company that the licence had been withdrawn on the grounds that insufficient evidence for maintaining the service had been brought forward at the authority’s hearing in September. The company had been operating the licence for some time, he said, and did not think evidence was required to maintain it.

At the July hearing SPANZ made an amended application to the Air Services Licensing Authority that sought to forego any non-schedule licence and to seek a licence to operate four DC-3 aircraft being used for charter, observation and excursion operations and this was ultimately granted. 

On the 1st of February 1962 The Press advertised a notice of an Air Services Licensing Authority hearing that included SPANZ's appeal against the decision cancelling the existing non-scheduled licences (particularly Nelson-Hokitika and Invercargill) held by appellant company. 

On the 28th of February 1962 the Press reported that SPANZ's appeal against the cancellation of the non-scheduled licences, particularly on the Nelson - Hokitika - Invercargill route, was not allowed. So ended Hokitika's brief SPANZ service.