Gisborne - Index of Posts

Gisborne's geographical isolation has meant it has had a rich and varied airline history with over 40 operators running a regular air service to our most eastern city. Many of these are air services were courier operations which followed in the footsteps of Dominion Airways, Gisborne Air Transport and East Coast Airways operating between Napier and Gisborne. There have also been numerous operators that have from Rotorua to Gisborne flying the NZ Herald and a number of operators that have flown to Hamilton after NAC withdrew from that route. While I do not intend do a systematic series of postings on these air services I hope over an extended time to fill in the gaps on some of these operations listed below with their start date into Gisborne.

As always I would be most grateful in information, photos, stories and, after they are posted, corrections and omissions to me at westland831@gmail.com  - Thanks, Steve

1930 - Dominion Airways

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/02/dominion-airlines-east-coasts-first-air.html

1931 - Gisborne Air Transport

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/81-years-ago-today-gisborne-air.html

1933 - Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/wairoas-sunday-paper-service.html

1935 - East Coast Airways
https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2019/07/flying-dragons-east-coast-airways.html

1938 - Union Airways

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2021/09/union-airways-gisborne-air-service.html

1946 - National Airways Corporation

Post not written yet

1957 - Marshall Air Transport

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/rural-east-coast-flyer-marshalls-air.html

1957 - Petersen Aviation

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/petersen-aviation-wairoas-first-air.html

1958 - Cookson Airspread

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/12/wairoas-cookson-airspread-part-1.html 

1961 - South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand

Post not written yet

1968

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2020/12/sky-travel-nz-brave-new-feeder-operator.html

1969 - Midland Air Services

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/middle-districts-aero-clubs-airline.html

1970 - Geyserland Airways

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/04/geyserland-airways.html

1970 - Hawke's Bay and East Coast Aero Club 
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/wairoas-sunday-paper-service.html

 1972 - Air North

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/air-north-big-enough-to-serve-small.html

 1972 - Eastern Airlines

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/gisborne-aero-clubs-airline-eastern.html

1973 - Air Gisborne

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/air-gisborne-40-years-old.html

 1973 - Akarana Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/07/who-was-akarana-air.html

1974 - Mercury Air Couriers
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2016/03/getting-todays-information-delivered.html

1977 - Air Central

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/air-central-north-island-commuter.html

1978 - Air New Zealand

Post not written yet

 

1978 - Nationwide Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/08/nationwide-air-airline-and-car-ferry.html

1984 - Eagle Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/01/eagle-airways-part-1-fledgling-eagle.html

1984 - East Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/east-air-people-not-places.html

1987 - N B MacDonald Services

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/n-b-macdonald-services.html

1990 - Air Nelson

Post not written yet

1991 - Air Rotorua
http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2017/12/flying-herald-air-rotorua.html

1991 - Associated Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2010/05/associated-air-paraparaumus-friendly.html

1993 - Air Napier

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/02/air-napier-only-airline-flying-to.html

1993 - Kiwi West Aviation

 http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2014/06/take-off-with-kiwi-west-aviation.html

1993 - United Aviation

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/united-aviation-late-1990s-lower-north.html

1995 - Tyrrell Aviation

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/03/tyrrell-aviation-flying-between-new.html

1997 - Air Wellington
https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2018/03/air-wellington-another-paraparaumu.html

1997 - Aotearoa Airlines

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/02/gisbornes-aotearoa-airlines.html

1997 - Sunair

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/02/sunair-still-shining-25-years-on.html

1997 - Te Kaahu Airlines

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/vip-air-charter-and-its-te-kaahu.html

1997 - Vincent Aviation

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/01/vincent-aviations-east-coast-service.html

1999 - Air Freight (NZ)

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/02/air-freight-nz-ltd-21-this-year.html

and

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/02/air-freights-east-coast-aztecs.html

2001 - Scott Air

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/scott-air.html

2005 - Air Discovery

http://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2011/10/air-discovery-your-schedule-your.html

2020 - Air Ruatoria

https://3rdlevelnz.blogspot.com/2023/03/living-dream-air-ruatoria.html

A long time ago, in the days before internet flight booking...

Westport is to be the hub of a West Coast airline communications setup, a spokesman for NC said yesterday. The corporation has approved a new and improved communications system linking the company’s office in Westport with the Greymouth, and Hokitika agencies. A leased direct telephone Circuit will not only improve reservations procedures and methods of communications at these points, but also Link in with the facilities required when the Dorac System (computerisation reservations system) is introduced in 1970-71, one requirement being, the limiting of the number of principal agents connected to the teleprinter network to assist in maintaining the discipline and control necessary for accurate input to the computer. The N.A.C. teleprinter, in the Union Steam Ship Company’s, Westport office, will serve as the direct link with NAC's Christchurch relay station linking with the New Zealand-wide network. Reservations facilities available at Westport are the same as at any N.A.C., branch, namely full "sell and record" facilities for an N.A.C. services throughout, New Zealand. Hokitika and Greymouth agents have no permanent  communications connection to the N.A.C. network, reservations being made through Westport on daily fixed time toll calls over the normal Post Office circuits or, sometimes, by the agents Concerned by toll call with Christchurch at the passenger's expense. Hokitika also, can use the D.C.A. (Department of Civil Aviation) network for Class B (reservation) messages. All these will be eliminated by the new system, and at a slightly lower cost to N.A.C. Country clients will save on toll calls and will be able to secure immediate reservations unless the required flight is nearly fully booked, when slightly more time will required to secure a reservation. Altogether nine different communications systems Were considered, the finally decided set-up being found to be the superior system, especially as It provides a better and more economic communication With N.A.C., Nelson for administrative and operations procedures.

Westport "News" 26 March 1968

Fly the Gulf - Tikapa Air

Tikapa Air, Great Barrier Island’s only locally owned airline, was established by 21 year old Great Barrier resident Monique Van Dooren in 1992. Originally the company was going to be called Sky Venture, connecting it to Monique’s parents’ enterprise Aquaventure Scuba Diving. Instead, at the suggestion of an elderly Maori woman from Katherine Bay. the airline was named Tikapa Air after Tikapa Moana the Maori name for the Hauraki Gulf. Monique had her taste for flying when her mother arranged a trial flight for her. Thoughts of going teaching were put aside in favour of a career in aviation and, in January 1992, equipped with a commercial pilot’s licence and Cessna 177B Cardinal ZK-DAN (c/n 17701528) Tikapa Air began operating offering air charter and flightseeing services from Claris airfield. A Monday Great Barrier Island to Auckland return service was also offered in the first few months. This service, which went over in the morning and returned in the late afternoon allowed islanders a whole day for business or shopping in the city. An office was established at Claris airfield in April 1992 and this lifted the company’s profile.

Barrier Bulletin, January-February 1992

Barrier Bulletin, April 1993

By mid-1993 Tikapa Air was flying an on demand service to Auckland most days and in November 1994 a regular service was established in competition with Great Barrier Airlines. Summer 1994/95 saw the hire of Piper Pa32-300 Cherokee Six, ZK-WGO (c/n 32--7340146) to meet the growth in traffic.

Tikapa Air timetable, Summer 1994/1995

Tikapa Air's Cessna 177 Cardinal ZK-DAN boarding for Great Barrier Island at Auckland on 7 September 1995.

Some years before its use on the Barrier run, Cardinal ZK-DAN at Timaru on 25 March 1987. 

By 1995 Tikapa Air had become bigger than Monique had ever anticipated with two daily return flights being offered. While, for most of the year she worked alone, she recognised that, for the best interests of the local community and the future of the Island, the operation needed a major expansion and a larger aircraft.  

Barrier Bulletin, January 1995

At this time Air National had, over a period of months, taken a keen interest in Tikapa Air. They were impressed with what Monique was doing and how she was doing it. As their GAF Nomad wasn’t doing much Air National suggested they could work together with Tikapa Air.

Monique was interested. Her airline was well established and at the time she could see the advantages of it being a mutually beneficial arrangement. As a result, Air National and Tikapa Air merged together to launch Great Barrier Express. Monique, along with Air National, managed the project and integration of the service. A ‘hand over’ wine and cheese evening was organised on Great Barrier Island at the Claris Club for residents and local businesses and the merger was introduced and explained.  Great Barrier Express was launched on the Auckland–Great Barrier Island route on the 6th of October 1995 using GAF N24 Nomad ZK-ECN with Monique joining Air National as a Nomad pilot whereupon Tikapa Air ceased to operate and the Cessna 177 Cardinal, was sold.

Barrier Bulletin, December 1995

People Included:
Monique van Dooren (Owner and Chief Pilot)
Annemarie Bensemann (Pilot)
Nick Mitchell (Pilot)
Erik Rosdahl (Pilot)
Angela Smith (Office Manager)
Luke Southall (Pilot)

Piper Cherokee 6 ZK-WGO was used by Tikapa Air during the summer of 1994/95. It is seen here being used by Glenorchy Air at Milford Sound on 14 September 1997.