ABOUT US

Our helicopter story began back when brothers Mark, Peter, David and sisters Anna and Julia were growing up on their hill country family farm and first watched helicopters going about aerial work. The helicopter was like no other piece of machinery they had ever seen. The ability to fly and operate in any part of the immediate airspace was truely amazing. This spurred an interest. During these times, Dad purchased a Bantam B22 microlight and our rural aviation life continued through his flying from the farm.

Our era was also one of a truly unique period in NZ aviation history. To be able to use the helicopter for hunting feral deer was both special and particular to NZ. To participate in both aviation and hunting was the dream of most hunter pilots. To fly and work in the wilderness and remoteness of NZ was simply living that dream.

The typical evolvement of business within this sector, exposed new directions, new aircraft types, all in pursuit of niches created or which currently existed. It also took us globally, where we used our skills and experience to achieve outcomes in lands which were not commonly travelled yet sprinkled with enormous experiences.

Our work has been very diverse with the foundation born via wild animal recovery and live capture. This profession is an immensely skilled discipline which exposes oneself to enormous challenges. Honed skills in this trade prepare you well when tackling all weather, varied environments, aircraft performance and aerial skill sets gained throughout your aviation career.

Logging, agricultural, shooting, lifting, capture, darting, flight training, air transport, SAR, fire fighting, frost, VIP charter are all sectors of which we are experienced within.

For 22 years our family owned company has chiselled its way into a niche and continues to pursue and enjoy aviation as our primary means of business. With our new addition to the company, we easily see another 20 years but with some additional innovative options and plans unfolding.

Kahu NZ was born via an aspiration fuelled by a focused motivation to become something strong and exciting within our helicopter business. The age old; “imagine if”, “I reckon I can”, “I’ll give it a go” attitude, was key in making this all happen. We all have this in us, its just matter of applying it relentlessly and as my good friend the late Pera Te Amo always said, “lean forward and outcomes prevail”.

Kahu NZ is that. With beginnings derived from rural NZ, previous experience within both aviation and military environments and a can do attitude, the idea of doing something like buying and operating the iconic Black Hawk, came easy.

By seeking out and bolting on like minded people spread across all walks of life, trades and the globe, the plan slowly evolved. Pot holes and curve balls abounded but thats expected. However a determined drive navigates these issues and finally you get runs on the board and the light gets brighter.

Kahu (Māori name for Hawk) is fitting for the Black Hawk which after 40 years of operations has found a new home in New Zealand. The idea to rename the exisiting company with the addition of the Black Hawk, came easy. The branding of the Hawk came easy also. Thanks to some very clever locals, the new brand was born. The “Kiwi Hawk” has been instantly owned by Kiwis. The eagerness to make it part of who we all are, has evolved with huge excitement and a strong willingness by many people to help wherever possible.

With black being the iconic colour of our national sporting teams, Kahu the Māori hawk, NZ our amazing country and the kowhaiwhai our special Maori illustration of all things Pakeha and Māori, we collectively capture who we are. Another special adage, is the US flag, representing the Pickering family of America who helped make all of this happen and whom we would not have succeeded without.

Having all of this bolted into one aircraft type, exudes an overwhelming sense of “Kia kaha” (strength). Flying our skies, working within our communities and representing us abroad reflects a similar image we see of our national teams, companies and people fronting up and getting the job done. This is an easy aircraft to like. Its a real been there and done that helicopter. Its “there and back” capability is legendary, all 40 years and 14 million flight hours of it.

So we welcome the Black Hawk to NZ. We say a huge thanks to everyone involved with this special project and long live the immense power of the human mind once tapped by motivated individuals.