Taking Off: Pioneering Small Airlines of New Zealand 1945–1970 by Richard Waugh

The pioneers who connected New Zealand by air

Very Good Condition – light corner wear visible.

Richard Waugh chronicles the small airlines that linked New Zealand’s regions during the formative post-war decades of commercial aviation. Drawing on detailed research, photographs and personal recollections, he follows the operators, pilots and aircraft that opened routes beyond the main centres, often in challenging conditions. The book captures both entrepreneurial ambition and the practical realities of maintaining local air services from 1945 to 1970. Rich in aviation history, it preserves the stories of pioneering companies whose work helped connect remote communities and shape the country’s transport network.