75th Airline Anniversary

Rev Richard Waugh, the organiser of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of New Zealand’s first licensed scheduled airline reports that good progress is being made in planning for the event. The celebration will begin at Hokitika Airport on Friday 18 December, where visitors will be able to take “joyrides” in historic de Havilland aircraft in the morning. On Friday afternoon, the official opening of the new “Bert Mercer Wing” of the Hokitika Airport will feature historic displays and a Bert Mercer look-alike competition, and visitors will be able to view historic aircraft.

The celebrations will then move to Haast, where aviation videos will be screened at the Haast Hotel lounge in the evening and there will be a meeting to discuss the disappearance of Mercer’s former Dragonfly, ZK-AFB, and there will be a presentation by Gavin Grimmer of www.findlostaircraft.co.nz.

At midday on Saturday 19 December, Marie Lindsay—Captain Bert Mercer’s 95-year-old daughter—will unveil a bronze commemorative plaque at the Haast Department of Conservation Centre. After the formalities, there will be a community celebration at the Haast aerodrome with flying, food and entertainment for visitors and that evening, there will be an anniversary celebration dinner at the aerodrome.

The celebrations will conclude on Sunday 20 December with an interdenominational church service in the Haast Hotel lounge.

Registration information and a national newsletter is available from the NZ 75th Airline Anniversary Committee, PO Box 82-363 Highland Park, Howick, Auckland 2143 or by contacting Richard Waugh 09 5339400 or email rjw@ecw.org.nz