1981-1990
The overseas flights
1981, 1 January
Auckland-Tokyo and return
An Air NZ Boeing 737 (Captain G. Forbes) inaugurated a twice weekly service.
1981, 2 March
Auckland-Tokyo
Air NZ introduced the Douglas DC-10 on the Auckland-Nandi-Tokyo route.
1981, 28 March
50th anniversary re-enactment
Of Francis Chichester’s epic solo flight from New Zealand to Australia via Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands in 1931. Souvenir covers were cancelled with a special postmark at Auckland and were backstamped at Norfolk Is. and Sydney.
1981, 11-17 June
Air NZ introduced the Boeing 747s
To its trans-Tasman services. Boeing 747 ZK-NZW worked all flights.
11 June: Auckland-Sydney & return
12 June: Auckland-Melbourne & return
14 June: Auckland-Brisbane & return
15 June: Christchurch-Sydney & return
1981, 20 June
Auckland-Singapore and return
The first Air NZ Boeing 747 flight on this service was made by ZK-NZW on Flight TE27 from Auckland and TE26 from Singapore.
1981, 30 June
Official opening of Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport
(Waitangi Airport) in the Chatham Islands. The first official landing of an aircraft carrying passengers and mail from N.Z. was made by SAFE Air Bristol Freighter ZK-CLT. A commemorative postmark was used at the Waitangi Post Office to cancel mail flown to N.Z.
1981, 1-17 July
Air NZ service introduced the Boeing 747
On its trans Pacific routes. No cachets or special postmarks were used. All flights were made by ZK-NZX.
1 July: Auckland-Nandi
11 July: Auckland-Honolulu
17 July: Nandi-Auckland
1981, 22 July
Christchurch-Antarctica and return
USAF Lockheed C-141B Starlifter 66-128 left Christchurch and overflew McMurdo and South Pole Stations on a mid-winter air drop of supplies and mail before returning to Christchurch. Included in the mail were 244 special covers with printed NZFPO cachets.
1982, 15 January
25th anniversary of the first Antarctic flight
Of Beaver NZ6001 of the RNZAF Antarctic Flight. This mail was flown back to Christchurch as freight on LC-130 XD 03 (Lt Cdr G.R. Hartzell) on 21 January, 1982. Covers were postmarked SCOTT BASE 15 JAN 82 ROSS DEPENDENCY.
1982, 2 April
Tokyo-Auckland flight
By Japan Air Lines (JAL). Special covers with a pictorial cachet applied by the Tokyo Post Office and postmarked 2 April were backstamped AUCKLAND 6 APR 82.
1982, 16 June
Christchurch-Chatham Islands and return
The N.Z. Government granted the contract for this service to SAFE Air Ltd which used Hawker Siddeley HS.650 Argosy ZK-SAF to carry passengers and mail.
1982, 2 August
Wellington-Chatham Islands and return
SAFE Air Ltd H.S.650 Argosy service commenced with ZK-SAF, alternating between Christchurch and Wellington.
1982, 25 August
Auckland to London Airport (Gatwick) and vice versa
Regular service by Air NZ. The first all-Air NZ Douglas DC-10 service to the U.K. Air NZ produced a souvenir cover depicting a British Guardsman, and the Chief Post Office, Auckland used a special illustrated postmark to cancel mail. Covers were backstamped LONDON FS. 26 AUG 7.3AM by machine which included a 7-wavy line obliterator plate.
NOTE: Some covers were reported to have been mislaid in the U.K. postal system. Replacement covers (but not the “Guardsman” design) were printed in N.Z. and were postmarked with the Auckland special postmark. Air NZ then flew these to London where they were backstamped LONDON FS. -81 contained in an inner and outer circle with 26AU-82 in the centre and no wavy lines.
1982, 3 November
Auckland-Papua New Guinea-Hong Kong
Air NZ changed its route to include Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) in the service when a tripartite agreement between Air NZ, Cathay Pacific Airlines and Air Niugini was signed, allowing the companies to operate the route on three-monthly schedules. The Air NZ service was worked with Boeing 747s.
Auckland-Port Moresby, PNG
Auckland-Port Moresby-Hong Kong
Hong Kong-Port Moresby
Hong Kong-Port Moresby-Auckland
1982, 4 November
Adelaide-Auckland and return
Service inaugurated by QANTAS with Boeing 747 VH-EBB “City of Melbourne” (Captain David Crapp). The return flight was made on the same day. A special postmark was used at Adelaide and covers were backstamped at Auckland on 4 November.
1983, 8 January
Christchurch-Hobart and return
Air NZ Boeing 737 ZK-NAR (Captain A. Macauley) inaugurated a weekly service.
1983, 21 February
Auckland-Pitcairn Island
First Official Air Drop. Lockheed C-130H Hercules NZ7004 (Squadron Leader T.K. Butler) of No 40 Squadron, RNZAF left Whenuapai Base Auckland, carrying supplies and mail which included special souvenir covers postmarked AUCKLAND 16 February 83. After being dropped the covers were struck with the single-circle Pitcairn Island handstamp dated 21 February.
1983, 4 May
Auckland-Papua New Guinea-Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific Airways took over the route from Air New Zealand for a three-monthly period under the tripartite agreement. The service was flown by Boeing 747-267B VR-HIE.
1984, 1 April
Auckland-Los Angeles
Air New Zealand commenced a non-stop trans-Pacific service as the first sector of the “One Stop” service from Auckland to London. Boeing 747 ZK-NZY flew the first service on this route.
1984, 11 April
50th anniversary of first official trans-Tasman
Air mail, flown by Charles T.P. Ulm in the Avro Ten VH-UXX “Faith in Australia” in 1934. Souvenir covers and commemorative postage stamps were issued by the Australian Post Office and a special postmark was used at the Chief Post Office, Auckland for the return flight mail. Covers from Australia were postmarked RAAF RICHMOND 11 APR 1984 and covers from N.Z. were backstamped SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 14 APR 1984.
1984, 15 August
Australia-New Zealand flight by RAAF
Canberra B.20 A84-240 (Squadron Leader Neil Williamson) from RAAF Richmond to RNZAF Base, Ohakea. It carried a small unofficial mail and covers were signed by RAAF and RNZAF crew members.
1984, 18 September
Christchurch-McMurdo Sound and return
Medical emergency flight by Lockheed Hercules of No 40 Squadron, RNZAF to pick up an ill member of the staff at Scott Base. Owing to the short notice of the flight, only a small mail was carried including approximately 20 covers postmarked LOOSE LETTER, CHRISTCHURCH. A rubber-stamp cachet reading MEDICAL EMERGENCY – FLIGHT 16.9.84 – Christchurch to Antarctica was privately applied. The “Weddell Seal” cachet was struck on mail at Scott Base.
Christchurch-McMurdo Emergency flight
1984, 23 September
Auckland-Norfolk Island service
Air NZ replaced the Friendships with Boeing 737s, ZK-NAR making the first flight on 23 September.
1985, 19 March
Auckland-Pitcairn Island
Official Air Drop by Lockheed P-3B Orion of No 5 Squadron, RNZAF. Souvenir covers showing an Orion in flight were postmarked at Auckland on 18 March and bear a 70c Pitcairn postage stamp cancelled PITCAIRN ISLAND 23 MARCH 85.
1985, 15 May
50th anniversary of the ill-fated 1935 Australia-New Zealand Jubilee flight
By Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the “Southern Cross”. Privately printed souvenir covers with silver vignette were postmarked at Cronulla on 15 May and flown on QANTAS scheduled service to Wellington and were backstamped 23 May 1985.
1985, 29 August
Special "Stampex" air mail - Christchurch-McMurdo Sound, Antarctica
Covers posted at the 1985 “Stampex” Philatelic Exhibition, Christchurch received a special datestamp showing a Lockheed C-130H Hercules and were later flown to McMurdo by Lockheed C-141B Starlifter 65-240 of the USAF. Covers were backstamped at Scott Base.
1985, 10 September
Seattle-Wellington delivery flight
Of the first Air NZ Boeing 767-200 ER ZK-NBA “Aotearoa”. The flight between Everett Field, Seattle and Nandi, Fiji was the longest by a 767 to that date. It was reported that a few unofficial letters were carried.
1985, 30 September
Wellington-Sydney
Air NZ first trans Tasman service by Boeing 767 ZK-NBA “Aotearoa”.
1985, 29 October
Christchurch-Los Angeles inauguration
Of Air NZ service by Boeing 747 ZK-NZV (Captain P.McA. Grundy, Captain R.V. Dalziell). A special cover was produced by the South Island Publicity Association and a special postmark was used at the Chief Post Office, Christchurch.
1985, 29 October
Christchurch-Melbourne
Air NZ introduced Boeing 767 ZK-NBA “Aotearoa” on this route, and produced special covers to mark the occasion.
1986, 21 January
Seattle-Christchurch
The first Air NZ Boeing 737-219 ZK-NAT (Captain B. Dunn, Captain M. Leefe) arrived at Christchurch Airport on a delivery flight from Boeing Field, Seattle, via San Francisco-Honolulu and Apia. Some unofficial mail may have been carried.
1986, 21 March
Campbell Island mail drop
A Lockheed P-3B Orion of No 5 Squadron, RNZAF, dropped mail to the staff of the sub Antarctic Meteorological Station at Campbell Island.
1986, 5-7 April
London-Auckland and return
By British Airways BAe/Aerospatiale Concorde G-BOAB. During the flight from Heathrow Airport the aircraft was piloted variously by Captains J.W. Burton, J.L. Chorley, J.C. Hutchinson, J.D. Cook and N.A. Britton. British Airways produced a souvenir cover, postmarked at London on 5 April and struck with a cachet showing a lamb. Covers carried on the return flight were postmarked at Auckland on 7 April and were struck with a cachet depicting a Maori carving.
1986, 22 April
Campbell Island mail drop
By Lockheed P-3B Orion (Flight lieutenant D. Whitaker) of No 5 Squadron, RNZAF.
1986, 21-29 June
Auckland-Fukuoka, Japan
Special flight by Air NZ Boeing 747 to celebrate Japan Week at Auckland’s “Sister City”. Official letters were sent to Japanese dignitaries from Auckland.
1986, 8 October
Christchurch-Singapore service
Inaugurated by Singapore Airlines with Boeing 747-200B 9V-SQO. A small mail, including souvenir covers, was flown from Christchurch and was backstamped at Singapore on 9 October.
1986, 31 October
Christchurch-London
First flight by British Airways Boeing 747-36 G-AWNB. Privately produced souvenir covers were postmarked at Christchurch on 31 October and were backstamped at London F.S. (Foreign Section) on 3 November.
1987, 26 February
Auckland-Pitcairn Island air drop
By Lockheed C-130 Hercules of No 40 Squadron, RNZAF. Mail included souvenir covers postmarked at Auckland on 26 Feb. and Pitcairn Island on 2 March.
1987, 23-28 March
Singapore-Christchurch-The Last Great Air Race
Air NZ Douglas DC-8-54F ZK-NZD (Captain W.J. Woodham) won Line Honours and came third in the Handicap Section. 300 souvenir covers bearing the Christchurch Airport Jubilee postmark were flown to Singapore where they were postmarked 28 March 1987. The covers were placed on board the DC-8 ZK-NZD as it took part in the Air Race and were certified and signed on the reverse by the crew.
1987, 28 October
Auckland-Dallas Fort Worth
First flight by Air NZ by Boeing 747. Mail included 500 souvenir covers cancelled with the pictorial PHILATELIC SALES CENTRE-AUCKLAND N.Z.-28OC87.1 postmark and the DALLAS FT WORTH TX postmark of 29OC 1987 AM.
1987, 30-31 October-2 November
Auckland to Frankfurt-am-Main and vice versa
By Air NZ Boeing 747 ZK-NZX via Honolulu and Los Angeles. 500 souvenir covers were cancelled at the Philatelic Centre, Auckland on 30 October and were backstamped by the Frankfurt Air NZ Meterpost frank on 31 October. A pictorial flight cachet was applied to covers. Those carried on the Frankfurt-am-Main to Auckland first flight bear a large oval pictorial postmark dated 31.10.1987 and an Air NZ flight cachet and are backstamped AK.INTERNAT AIRPORT P.O.-2NO87.1.
1988, 31 March
Christchurch-Adelaide "AF-ROPEX 88" goodwill mail
Souvenir covers postmarked at the Christchurch Philatelic Centre on 31 March 1988 were flown between “sister cities” to honour the “AEROPEX 88” Exhibition in Adelaide.
1988, 10 September
Sydney-Christchurch
60th Anniversary of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith’s first trans-Tasman flight. The Christchurch firm of Stirling & Company produced a miniature cinderella sheet of four stamps showing an unaccepted essay of a 1932 air stamp. This sheet was used on souvenir covers flown from Sydney to Christchurch by the scheduled service on this date.
1988, 13 October
60th anniversary of Charles Kingsford Smith
Smith’s first flight from Blenheim-Sydney in the “Southern Cross”. Stirling & Company produced a miniature cinderella sheet showing an essay of an unaccepted 1932 air stamp and souvenir covers with this sheet affixed were postmarked WOODBOURNE NZ AIR FORCE 13 OC 88 (Blenheim) and were flown by scheduled service from Christchurch International Airport to Sydney and backstamped RICHMOND NSW AUST 13OC 88.
1988, 6 November
Auckland-Denpasar, Bali service
Inaugurated by Garuda Indonesian Airlines Douglas DC-10-30 PK-GIE (Captain Tardan). Mail included souvenir covers posted in Christchurch on 4 November and backstamped at Santria, Bali on 6 November.
1988, 7 November
Singapore-Christchurch
Inaugural Air NZ flight by Boeing 747 ZK-NBB (Flt. TE028). Souvenir covers were postmarked at Singapore on 7 November and again at Christchurch on the 8th.
1988, 30 November
Christchurch-Tokyo service
Inaugurated by Japan Air Lines (JAL). Mail included souvenir covers postmarked CHRISTCHURCH 28 NO 88.1 and backstamped at Tokyo 30 November.
1988, 17 December
Auckland-Cairns
Weekly service inaugurated by Air NZ Boeing 767-219, ZK-NBE.
1989, 22 March
Auckland-Dallas Fort Worth last flight
This service, which Air NZ had commenced on 28 October 1987 terminated on 22 March when a Boeing 767 worked the route.
1989, 27 March
Tokyo-Christchurch
Air NZ inaugurated a non-stop service using Boeing 747 ZK-NZY. A pictorial postmark was applied to souvenir covers on 27 March and they were backstamped at Christchurch on the 28th.
1989, 2 April
Christchurch-Perth direct service
Inaugurated by Air NZ Boeing 767 ZK-NBA on 2 April. Special covers were postmarked at Christchurch on 31 March and backstamped at Perth on 3 April.
1989, 12 April
Christchurch-Sydney-London Concorde flight
During its world cruise, British Airways Concorde G-BOAF landed at Christchurch International Airport, where it was displayed from 9-12 April. Visitors inspecting the aircraft were presented with a large self-adhesive vignette. The Concorde left Christchurch on 12 April for Sydney and London. A special mail was flown to Sydney, including British Airways envelopes with the vignette affixed, and postmarked CHRISTCHURCH 12AP89. They were backstamped at Sydney International Airport on the same date.
Special covers were also produced by British Airways and were flown to London where they received an arrival cachet dated 23 April.
1989, 10 October
Christchurch-Sydney flight
By British Airways Concorde G-BOAD. Members of the public inspecting the aircraft were presented with a similar triangular self-adhesive vignette to that of the 23 April visit. When the Concorde left Christchurch International Airport on 10 October, it carried covers to which the vignette had been affixed and bore a British Airways Concorde flight cachet. These covers were postmarked at Christchurch Airport on the 10th and were backstamped at Sydney International Airport on the same day.
1990, 2 March-7 April
Australia-New Zealand-Australia
Flight by the replica “Southern Cross” VH-USU crewed by Tony Mooy, Keith McCoy and Colin Watt. Sponsored by Australian business, the aircraft was built to the same specifications as the original “Southern Cross”. It flew across the Tasman Sea via Norfolk Island and also landed there on the return flight to Australia. During its New Zealand tour the replica visited 22 airfields and flew over 66 centres. 200 souvenir covers with cachets were flown on each stage and backstamps were applied as appropriate.
The Australia & NZ Bank also produced covers which were flown Australia-N.Z.-Australia.
Australia-Norfolk Is.-New Zealand
New Zealand-Norfolk Is.-Australia
Australia-New Zealand-Australia ANZ Bank cover
1990, 22-24 August
Bucharest-Auckland special air mail
Flown by TAROM (Romanian Air Transport) Boeing 707 (Flt No R0313 Bucharest-Singapore) and Air NZ Boeing 767 ZK-NBB (Flt. No TE026 Singapore-Auckland) to honour the 1990 World Stamp Exhibition being held in Auckland. 1,000 special souvenir covers cancelled by special postmark at Bucharest on 21 August and were backstamped WORLD STAMP EXHIBITION AUCKLAND – 25 AUGUST 1990.
1990, 3 November
Christchurch-Norfolk Island
Weekly service inaugurated by Air NZ Boeing 737 ZK-NAW (Captain C. Regnault) in the flight time of 2 hrs 45 minutes. A small mail, some of which bore a privately-produced cachet, was carried. The return flight was made the same day but covers were not backstamped at Christchurch until 5 November.