Air Route Revived

 

Originair commenced direct flights between Blenheim and Palmerston North today. The first flights, OGN 201 from Palmerston North to Blenheim and the return, OGN 202 from Blenheim to Palmerston North were operated in British Aerospace Jetstream 31 ZK-JSH. 

This service is operated twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays. Originair told RNZ that it anticipates demand for its new service between Blenheim and Palmerston North will be driven by business from nearby military bases. Managing director Robert Inglis said the new service to Palmerston North would suit those currently driving to Nelson for a direct flight. "If Nelson-Palmerston is anything to go by, it's certainly been a high percentage of people visiting friends and family," he said. "Certainly more of a leisure market than a business market." Passengers would find it more convenient than flying to Wellington and driving up, he said. Personnel at Woodbourne and Ohakea military bases were also expected to take advantage of the new route.

The first time this direct route was operated in the 1930s when Union Airways operated de Havilland Express aircraft between the two centres until just after the outbreak of World War II. Union Airways will be the subject of a post in January.

The route was then briefly operated by CityJet in 1999 using Embraer Bandeirantes, see https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/12/cityjet-nzs-low-cost-airline.html

Blenheim reconnected to Christchurch

 Originair commenced operating flights between Blenheim and Christchurch on the 19th of October 2025. The first flights, OGN 109 from Blenheim to Christchurch and the return OGN 110 from Christchurch to Blenheim were operated in British Aerospace Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK.

At present 9 flights per week are being offered... 

 

Originair's BAe Jetstream 32 ZK-JSK on the gate on Christchurch on the 20th of October 2025

If anyone has any photos of the first flight into Christchurch that would be appreciated... Steve - westland@gmail.com

An Electric Future?

 

A huge thanks to Scott Cowley who caught these photos of the Air New Zealand sponsored BETA ALIA CX300, registered N401NZ, at Hamilton on 17 October 2025 

Air New Zealand and BETA Technologies team up for first electric aircraft take-off in Tauranga today (17 October 2025). The first electric aircraft to carry the Air New Zealand name has hit the skies today, with the BETA ALIA CX300 taking off from Tauranga Airport in its first test flight in New Zealand. The aircraft was manufactured in the United States by global aviation innovator BETA Technologies. It arrived in the country last week and was blessed at a sunrise ceremony in Tauranga. The aircraft is expected to fly to Hamilton Airport later today where it will be based before moving to Wellington Airport for a further two months in December. Baden Smith, Air New Zealand's General Manager - Fleet, Networks and Strategy, says the first flight marks an important milestone in the airline's Next Generation Aircraft programme, and the innovation journey the airline is on to understand how different technology might work in New Zealand and globally in the future. "New Zealand has a proud history of aviation innovation and pushing for progress, whether it's Richard Pearse who first opened the skies with flying machines, to the era of TEAL flying boats, through to engineers and aviators who connected us to the world. "It's incredibly special to partner with a global innovator like BETA to ensure New Zealand is a part of shaping what the future of flight might look like both here and around the world. We know aviation will keep changing - it always has.  This is a small, cautious step to learn and be part of that change," says Baden Smith. BETA Technologies Director of Flight Operations, Chris Caputo, says, "This first flight marks the powerful intersection of pragmatic design and operational innovation. "We built the ALIA CX300 on a foundation of simplicity to ensure a fast, safe, and efficient path to commercial service.  With this 'Tech Demonstrator' collaboration, Air New Zealand is not just validating a single aircraft - they are creating the rigorous operational blueprint that will serve as a model for operators around the world who are serious about unlocking low-cost, sustainable connectivity for their regional communities." The ALIA CX300 has been leased by Air New Zealand for four months for a technical demonstrator programme, which enables the airline, alongside partners and regulators, to learn how the aircraft will perform in New Zealand conditions, and to start pilot and engineering familiarisation.  It's also an opportunity for New Zealanders to see battery-electric aviation technology up close. During the aircraft's time in Hamilton, Air New Zealand and BETA teams will undertake a programme of flights in a range of conditions and altitudes.  In December it will move to Wellington, where it will complete flights between Wellington and Blenheim. 

Key facts and figures about the ALIA CX300:  

The ALIA is a versatile aircraft built for real-world flight. Its conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) configuration make it a good fit for existing airport infrastructure, and its battery-electric propulsion is quiet, with zero emissions inflight.  Designed for all-weather deployment and reliability, BETA's CTOL aircraft can accommodate two crew members and up to 5.6 cubic metres of cargo (200 cubic feet) on missions of up to approximately 398 kilometres (215 nautical miles). The aircraft has been designed to leverage existing airport infrastructure and fly in accordance with existing procedures to enable rapid adoption. Air New Zealand will be introducing its BETA ALIA CX300 pilots in November after the aircraft arrives in Hamilton. 

Notes to editors: 

Air New Zealand has invested in the required charging facilities to support the operation through its Climate and Nature Fund. 65kW mobile chargers will be based at Hamilton, Wellington and Blenheim airports. 

Source : https://www.airnewzealandnewsroom.com/press-release-2025-air-new-zealand-and-beta-technologies-team-up-for-electric-aircraft-takeoff-in-tauranga-today, 17 October 2025

Departing VIP

Departing New Zealand today on export is Piper PA31-350 Navajo Chieftain ZK-VIP (c/n 31-7405482).

The 1974 model Chieftain was placed on the New Zealand register on the 15th of March 1993 first being used by VIP Air Charter Ltd out of Hamilton. In 1997 it was used on a short-lived air service between Hamilton and Gisborne air service under the name of Te Kaahu Airlines... see https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2012/06/vip-air-charter-and-its-te-kaahu.html

VIP Air Charter's Piper Pa31-350 Chieftain ZK-VIP at Hamilton on 15 December 1993

On the 24th of October 2002 ZK-VIP was registered to the Gloriavale-owned Air West Coast Ltd of Greymouth. From the 8th of November 2002 Air West Coast began operating a Greymouth-Westport-Wellington service and a very short-lived Greymouth-Westport-Christchurch service. The Chieftain was was used on air service until March 2007 when it was replaced by Dornier 228 ZK-VIR. Air West Coast's air service ended on the 1st of August 2008 but ZK-VIP stayed with Air West Coast until June 2014... see https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/05/air-west-coast-flying-on-wing-prayer.html

Piper Chieftain ZK-VIP with Air West Coast arrives back in Greymouth from Wellington and Westport on 9 March 2005.

On the 18th of June 2014 ZK-VIP was registered to Enfield Holdings Limited of Mosgiel which traded as Mainland Air. The Chieftain was used on Mainland Air's services between Oamaru and Christchurch. This services was operated for only a short time but the Chieftain was also used on medical staff flights from Dunedin to both Invercargill and Alexandra as well as charter and air ambulance work... see https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/10/mainland-air-last-airline-to-operate-to.html

Mainland Air's Piper Chieftain ZK-VIP being used by Barrier Air at Auckland on 26 October 2015

On the 1st of December 2015 ZK-VIP was leased to Auckland-based Great Barrier Airlines Limited which by then traded as Barrier Air. It was used on flights from Auckland to Kaitaia, Whangarei and Hamilton before it was registered back to Enfield Holdings Limited on the 11th of July 2016. It was last used on a medical staff flight from Dunedin to Alexandra and back on the 15th of September 2023 operating as MAINLAND 5... see : https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2015/08/barrier-air-new-name-to-barrier-and.html

Piper PA31-Chieftain ZK-VIP with Barrier Air at Auckland on 30 November 2015

Since then the Chieftain was used as part of the Mainland Air operation but it has been on the market for some time. It departs New Zealand for Australia today as VH-KYI.

Aquatic & Vintage Airways' Widgeons and Beaver

After Sea Bee Air ceased operating Grumman Widgeon and Goose aircraft on scheduled services in New Zealand during Easter 1989 there was one final operator that continued commercial operations using G. While this was the end of amphibious scheduled services it was not the end of commercial flying by amphibians. That honour goes to Aquatic & Vintage Airways Ltd and, as it was later renamed, Salt Air. 

Aviation often has passionate people in it. While Fred Ladd is well known for his passionate promotion of amphibian flying not so well known is Grant Harnish whose love affair with Grumman Widgeons continues to this day.

Aquatic & Vintage Airways Ltd came into being on 16th of October 1992 when O & C Harnish Ltd was renamed. The new operator was a 50-50 partnership between Grant Harnish and who was to front the operation and his father Owen who provided the initial financial backing. Owen Harnish had acquired Grumman G44A Widgeon ZK-CFA (c/n 1439) in 1987 but on the 23rd of December 1992 Grant took possession of it enabling Aquatic & Vintage Airways to take to the air offering scenic flights from the waterfront at Paihia. The Widgeon ZK-CFA had seen a lot of service with Tourist Air Travel, Mount Cook Airlines and Sea Bea Air and in offering scheduled services and scenic flying. With Sea Bee Air's closure the scheduled flying ceased and the new Bay of Islands-based company used the Widgeon to offer a variety of popular flights around the Bay of Islands as well as an option for a flight around Cape Reinga. 

Aquatic & Vintage Airways' Grumman Widgeon on maintenance at Ardmore on 31 May 1996

Meanwhile, Northern Air had developed an airstrip at Waitiki Landing, some some 20km south of Cape Reinga. Northern Air never used the airstrip very much and after damaging an aircraft on it it hadn't been used for some time. Aquatic & Vintage Airways saw an opportunity and on the 7th of June 1995 two of Owen Harnish's aircraft, De Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver ZK-CGX (c/n 1548) and Cessna 172P Skyhawk II ZK-EWF (c/n 17275010), were added to Aquatic & Vintage Airways' fleet and these aircraft were used to develop scenic flights from the airstrip at Haruru Falls near Paihia. On arrival  at the Waitiki Landing airstrip the passengers were taken from the airstrip to visit the Cape Reinga lighthouse, Tapotupotu Bay and the Te Paki quicksand stream and its giant sand dunes.

Before it went to Aquatic & Vintage Airways, DHC Beaver ZK-CGX, the Eager Beaver, at Ardmore on 19 November 1992. It was used on the Cape Reinga flights in this scheme with small Aquatic & Vintage Airways' titles on the side passenger door. Photo : MRC Aviation

1996 saw the acquisition of a second Widgeon. Grumman G44A Widgeon ZK-AVM (c/n 1466), like sister Widgeon ZK-CFA, had seen service with Tourist Air Travel, Mount Cook Airlines and Sea Bea Air. It was cancelled from the New Zealand register on the 18th of June 1987 after being sold to E J Jones of Cairns in Queensland, Australia who registered it as VH-WET and who operated it as Coral Wings. On the 22nd of April 1994 its Australian registration was cancelled and was registered to Massim Expeditions & Tours P/L, of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea and placed on the PNG register as P2-WET. It arrived back into New Zealand on the 10th of December 1994 and eventually it was cancelled from the PNG register in 1996 being placed on the New Zealand Zealand register as ZK-AVM again on the 1st of July 1996 and registered to Aquatic & Vintage Airways Ltd.

Aquatic & Vintage Airways Grumman Widgeon ZK-AVM at Ardmore on 15 September 1996

A couple of days after ZK-AVM's arrival at Paihia the first Widgeon, ZK-CFA, flew to Ardmore for supposedly a winter overhaul. It was a case of the best laid plans not coming to pass. The overhaul was put on the long finger and subsequently the Widgeon  had its wings removed, before it was placed on a trailer with the wings underneath and it was towed back to the Bay of Islands for what would become a 26 year restoration project.

Grumman Widgeon ZK-CFA at the top of the Brynderwyns on its way back to Kerikeri and the start of a long restoration project

Meanwhile Grumman Widgeon ZK-CFA continued to operate Aquatic & Vintage Airways

Some magnificent Lawrence Acket photos of Aquatic & Vintage Airways' second Grumman Widgeon, ZK-AVM, flying over the Bay of Islands during 1997

In 2022, 30 years on from his establishing Aquatic & Vintage Airways, Grant Harnish described that company name as "such a mouthful when answering the phone" that in '97 it became Salt Air. From then the aircraft were rebranded and Aquatic & Vintage Airways traded under the name Salt Air until the company name was officially changed to Salt Air Ltd on the 16th of April 1999. 

As stated above Grant Harnish' love affair with Grumman Widgeons started in 1992 with the launch of Aquatic & Vintage Airways and continues to this day. 30 years on, 2022 saw the completion of his restoration of Grumman Widgeon ZK-CFA. I was given the privilege of checking out the magnificent restoration of Grumman Widgeon ZK-CFA on the 14th of September 2025.   

The continuation of the story of Salt Air can be found here :

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/04/salt-air-xpress-service-to-northland.html

The magnificently restored Grumman Widgeon ZK-CFA on 14 September 2025

ZK-CFA's history

The old and new cockpit technology

A big thanks to Grant Harnish for his help in writing this post