South Westland Air Service celebrations
Description: Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. was the first airline in New Zealand to fly scheduled air services. Founded by Bert Mercer in 1934, and based in Hokitika, the company flew a number of De Havilland biplane aircraft, servicing areas on the West Coast. Mercer saw potential for a commercial air service in this region because there were no roads south of Ross, and the residents therefore relied on steamers and bullock tracks for access to the outside world. Air Travel (NZ) Ltd's first scheduled flight took place on 18 December 1934, from Hokitika to South Westland, and occurred shortly after the airline began delivering mail. In 1945, not long after Mercer died in an air crash, the company came under government control but continued until 1967, when the national air carrier NAC began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel (NZ) Ltd between 1934 and 1947.--Wikipedia.
Collection: DOCUMENTARY HERITAGEDescription: Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. was the first airline in New Zealand to fly scheduled air services. Founded by Bert Mercer in 1934, and based in Hokitika, the company flew a number of De…