Latest news with #WarbirdsOverWanaka
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Warbird scholarship programme widened
A vintage Spitfire takes off for a practice flight during Warbirds over Wanaka last year. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON Warbird aircraft engineers are now eligible to apply along with Warbird pilots to the Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust scholarship programme, the trust has announced. Warbirds Over Wanaka general manager Ed Taylor said since 2016, scholarships worth a total of $40,000 had been awarded to younger Warbird pilots to help them get valuable time flying historic aircraft. Most of the recipients to date were involved in last year's airshow, Mr Taylor said. The scholarship programme was paused after Covid forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2022 airshows but, following last year's successful event, the trust was now in a position to resume the programme, he said. The original scholarships were restricted to pilots, but the trust had decided to increase the number of scholarships and expand who could apply, meaning Warbird aircraft engineers were now eligible. Each scholarship would now be worth up to $10,000 following each airshow from now. The number and value of scholarships awarded would remain at the discretion of the trust's scholarship team, he said. Applications for the 2025 scholarship round open next month. — APL
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Funding boost from govt for 19 southern events
The South has been awarded just under $400,000 to help fund 19 different events, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston announced last week. The government is driving economic growth in the regions by investing $2.6 million in 152 regional events across New Zealand. Mrs Upston said she was thrilled with the variety of exciting events on offer, encouraging more New Zealanders to enjoy and explore New Zealand beyond the main centres. Events to get money in the South include Warbirds Over Wanaka, which received $50,000, the Steampunk NZ Festival which got $10,000 while $39,750 had been given to the Challenge Wānaka Festival of Triathlon 2026. Challenge Wānaka was under pressure to hold its event this year because of a lack of entries but managed to go ahead. It received a boost earlier this month when the event in February would also double as the New Zealand middle distance triathlon championship, making it an official qualifying event for the 2026 World triathlon multisport championships. Mrs Upston said investing in these events had a direct impact, with visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers, driving economic activity in communities. "By growing regional tourism, our remote and rural communities can benefit from the economic opportunities it brings,'' she said. Events were excellent drawcards to get more visitors into the regions, particularly in quieter parts of the year. "New Zealand is open for business, and we encourage both Kiwis and international visitors alike to explore and enjoy what New Zealand has to offer." Funding comes from the $5m Regional Events Promotion Fund, which has so far invested in 284 regional events. Funding recipients Clutha $10,000 to The Magnificent Adventure Race Enterprise Dunedin $8643 to 2025 Port Chalmers Seafood Festival $40,000 to 2026 New Zealand Masters Games $10,000 to Emersons Dunedin Marathon $30,000 to The Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival $25,000 to Wild Dunedin — NZ Festival of Nature Great South $16,000 to Burt Munro Challenge 2026 $20,000 to NZ Premier Motorsport Summer Series, Next Gen Round 4 $5000 to Rakiura Rhyme Machine Festival 2025 $22,000 to The Shepherdess Muster 2026 $30,000 to Tussock Country – NZ Country Music Festival 2026 Lake Wanaka Tourism $15,000 to Aspiring Conversations 2026 $39,750 to Challenge Wanaka Festival of Triathlon 2026 $15,000 to Merino Muster Ski Marathon $10,000 to NZ Mountain Film and Book festival $50,000 to Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow Tourism Central Otago $8643 to Alexandra Blossom Festival $14,000 to The 70th New Zealand GrandPrix — round 5 Tourism Waitaki $10,000 to Steampunk NZ Festival — APL
Otago Daily Times
24-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Plane ready to fly home to Australia
Callum Smith with the Beech D-17S Staggerwing VH-BBL. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Engineer Callum Smith has restored a Beech D-17S Staggerwing VH-BBL at the Wānaka airport, in a dashing blue. Mr Smith and his team of engineers at Twenty24 Ltd have finished returning the Staggerwing VH-BBL to flying condition for Australian owner Allan Arthur. The aircraft was originally built for the United States Navy during World War 2 but ended up in Britain as part of the lend-lease programme. After a few short stints back in the US and Norway after the war, the aircraft was sold to Australia where it remained until it was shipped to Wānaka a few years ago. Following the completion of a major overhaul, the aircraft has been test flown at Wānaka and will soon be flown home to Australia. Mr Arthur has history with Warbirds Over Wanaka. His Curtiss P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3125 was displayed at the 2006 airshow by legendary New Zealand airshow pilot John Lamont, who has flown at every Wānaka show since 1988. The restoration team at Twenty24 Ltd has no time to rest on its laurels, as work cranks up on another Staggerwing — Tracey and Cam Hawley's "Antarctic Staggerwing". This aircraft was taken to the Ice by Admiral Richard Byrd as part of his 1940 US Antarctic Service expedition. It crashed in 1963, and Mr Smith said it was "quite far gone" when it arrived in Wānaka. The couple own another Wānaka-restored Staggerwing, which has been a regular performer at Warbirds Over Wanaka since 2014. — APL
