With a new pilots licence I got a job at Air Gisborne doing charter work, instructing students, fish spotting and carting the odd relation to Hamilton on air ambulance flights. That was the early 90’s and good fun with my sights set on joining the national airline. A recession hit, the airline stopped hiring so I headed off to Massey University with my best friend. Pōneke was the next stop working in the public and private sector.
Fast forward to 2020, I had married my best friend, added two (boys) to our whānau however the passion for flying and Ruatoria remains, hence Air Ruatoria.
So come and enjoy our wonderful cultural landscapes, learn about our taonga, our iwi and the place we call “Paradise”
Nō reira, nau mai haere mai
Mahanga Maru
Te Aitanga-ā-Mate, Ngāti Uepohatu
Air Ruatoria