Sky-high helicopter growth post-lockdown: New $2.5m Heletranz hangar to meet rising demand
8 Jan, 2021 02:00 AM
4 minutes to read
Sofia and John Ambler at the new hangar. Photo / Dean Purcell
A new $2.5 million Auckland helicopter hangar is meeting sky-high demand for VIP private services with owners citing six reasons for the trade growing. John and Sofia Ambler of Heletranz have almost finished a new two-level building storing six of New Zealand s biggest, most expensive private helicopters, including a US$7.5m AugustaWestland AW109S Grand with a top speed of 310km/h. Business is up 30 per cent since the lockdown, Sofia Ambler said.
Briscoes boss Rod Duke: Why he likes making millions more than spending it
18 Dec, 2020 04:00 PM
10 minutes to read
Jane Phare is a senior business reporter for the New Zealand Heraldjane.phare@nzme.co.nz
In a frank interview, Briscoe Group CEO Rod Duke talks to Jane Phare about his expansion plans, that troublesome helicopter boatshed, and what he does with his money. Scroll to the bottom to watch the full interview.
Catch sight of Rod Duke puffing away on a fag outside his Morningside office and you just wouldn t know. Rich Lister ($800-odd million at last count), the man who wants helicopters to land on a boatshed below his four-level Herne Bay mansion, CEO of a $1 billion company. He looks more like a bloke who might have a lawn mowing round.