Off the Ground - 3, The Modern Pioneers

The third part of this NFU series on aviation in New Zealand jets off post-World War II, where wartime aircraft and crew provided a base for the National Airways Corporation (later Air New Zealand). The romance of travelling via flying boat made way for mass global air travel; and NZ tourism and airports rapidly became more sophisticated. Presenter Peter Clements looks at how the NZ environment spurred innovation (ski planes, top-dressing, heli deer hunting), and traces the lineage of contemporary garage aircraft makers to DIY first flyers like Richard Pearse.

For many years seaplane bases were more important to Auckland and Wellington than air fields.

– Peter Clements

Key Cast & Crew

Peter Clements

Presenter, Original Idea

Roger Goldstone

Sound Recordist

Dell King

Editor

Brian Shennan

Sound Mix

David Dry

Camera

Conon Fraser

Director, Writer