A period without lockdowns, and the trans-Tasman bubble excitement, saw passenger numbers surge - but restrictions keep the pressure on, the airport boss says.
GA8 Airvan (8-seat, brand new a year ago), PA34 Piper Seneca (6-seat twin), P28A Piper Archer (4-seat). Why did you choose the aircraft you have? These fit the smaller airfields we fly into at Karamea and Tākaka. The Seneca is also a fully instrument-equipped aircraft, that allows us to fly reliably between Wellington and Tākaka in all weather. We installed a GNSS instrument approach to Tākaka for this purpose. Can you tell us a bit about your history? Richard Molloy and Lisa Sheppard formed Golden Bay Air 15 years ago after a day trip in their private plane to Tākaka in Golden Bay. At the time there was no one else offering scheduled flights to this remote, artistic community surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery in the country - bordered by beaches, two National Parks and the special Farewell Spit and Wharariki Sea Arches.