The furtherest east one can fly in territorial New Zealand and putdown at an aerodrome is the Chatham Islands. But for the Bazflyers to get to this far-flung island outpost a flight of some 400 NM from mainland New Zealand is required, out into the Southern Pacific Ocean. We have yet to visit the Chatham’s, a flight that is definitely on the to do list for another day. Meanwhile, last Saturday we were presented with a compelling reason to fly to the most eastern aerodrome on mainland New Zealand.
Ruatōria is a small settlement insignificantly tucked away among the sprawling rugged hill country that geographically characterises New Zealand’s east cape region and determines its physical isolation. There are not many roads and this absence of infrastructure further accentuates the remoteness. Highway 35, a winding and twisty road, traverses the region 335 kms north to south. It bisects Ruatōria, easily missed should you blink while driving.
But, why drive when Ruatōria has an airfield? Even more compelling for the Bazflyers was a fly-in to mark the 60th anniversary of this remote airfield with a colourful history. Built by a farmer with a home-made grader, the original clubrooms were an old house that was dragged across the Waiapu River by bulldozer in three pieces. One of the original Ruatōria Aero Club members, 85-year-old Hughie Hughes QSM, got into a conversation with Bazflyer2. He recalled fly-ins being so popular hay bales would be bought in for overnighting guests and activities including cricket and softball challenges with the Ruatoria locals.
The first appearance of aviation in the East Coast Region was in 1922 when a De Havilland DH6 having been shipped from Auckland was flown from the Gisborne racecourse. Subsequently, airplanes not only facilitated access between the region and more populated centres, aircraft also played a major role in immediate post war rural productivity from spreading fertiliser on the steep hill country to dropping fence posts, critical economic contributions that continues today.
Route to Ruatōria
BAZ at Ruatōria (NZRR)
Ruatōria (NZRR) at 178 degrees East is the first mainland airfield in New Zealand to see the sun each morning and for the auspicious occasion its sole grass runway had been freshly manicured and marked with a while centre line.
Local catering (Kai) was superb. Three of the outlets were family (whanau) raising funds for two of their boys with aspirations to become commercial pilots. The boys had already soloed and passed exams. By the end of the day this auntie had contributed to the cause selling thousands of her absolutely scrumptious dumplings. Great effort indeed...!
