With a new commercial pilots licence I got a job at Air Gisborne doing charter work, instructing students, fish spotting and transferring whanau to Waikato/Otautahi 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. Pōneke was the next stop working in the public and private sector.
Fast forward to 2020, the passion for flying and Ruatoria remains, hence Air Ruatoria and a desire to give effect to “E Tipu E Rea”, a proverb which achieving your aspirations and giving back amongst other things.