News

Spraying Specials 2025

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 20:40:54 GMT

Every booking made for the months of
September, October and November goes in the draw to win 1 of 3 Heliventures Prize Packs.

Rat Eradication on Nu’Utele Island in Samoa 2025

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 22:22:56 GMT

Heliventures completed a rat eradication project on the Island Nu’utele just off the Samoan mainland of Upolou in August 2025 for an international island conservation project.

This project involved the shipping of one of our McDonnell Douglas 520N Notar helicopters and associated baiting equipment in a container to Samoa. A team of three from Heliventures base in Oamaru, along with an engineer from Mt Hutt Aviation flew to Samoa to receive the container from the Port and unpack the container. The helicopter was reassembled and went straight to work in the Samoan sun!

Each of the three applications went very smoothly and the operation was completed on time with great efficiency and no delays. We had fantastic support from numerous local landowners, government agencies, funding agencies and also the clients who were great to work with. It was a dream project to be involved with and we look forward to completing further international work of this kind in the future.

Agricultural Aviation is us and we love it!

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 01:22:59 GMT

To be good at something you must have a passion for it.

The history of Agricultural aviation in New Zealand starts back in the 40's when pilots were returning home from WW2. These skilled pilots put their unique flying experience to good use and converted military fighters and bombers and got to work spreading fertiliser on New Zealand hill county farms. This turned tough farming country into productive farm land and placed NZ firmly as a world leader in aerial topdressing. The industry has come a long way since then with purpose built aircraft that deliver a wide range of precisely measured agri chemicals and fertilisers. Gone are the days of pouring vast quantities of product, less efficiently and at a higher cost.

Agri spraying and fertiliser spreading are the core of the Agricultural pilot's work and demand a dedication to accuracy and effectiveness.

Helicopter V Fixed Wing aircraft

There is no denying that both types of aircraft have their pros and cons. And there is a good mix of both fixed wing and helicopters that work in agricultural aviation across all regions of NZ and each year. Both helicopters and fixed wing clock in around 129,000 hours of flying time. These days however, the majority of this time is trending towards more helicopter hours (approximately 70% of total flying time). So what is the difference, and why choose one over the other?

The first and most common advantage of Fixed wing aircraft is cost. Generally FW sprayers are cheaper to buy or to rent as well as their parts and repairs. Pilots are easily trained and maintenance is often simpler.

All agricultural aircraft need to be able to perform efficiently at slow speeds while carrying heavy loads and both FW and helicopters have this capability. However the versatility of pin point hovering and manoeuvring capability give helicopters the edge.

Helicopter precision sprayers also hold an advantage over FW sprayers in several important crop dusting and spraying functions. For one, instead of flying to a landing strip to reload helicopters can load from a truck and ground crew parked next to the field they are spraying making turnaround time faster and less costly. Helicopters also work much better in small hard to reach areas or locations with difficult terrain. This is ideal for clients who need to reach remote terrain, wet ground conditions, and prevent damage to valuable crops and ground compaction which can occur when ground trucks are used.

There is no denying that helicopters can deliver loads faster with much more accuracy than a Fixed Wing aircraft. So ultimately It’s up to the farmer to choose the particular aircraft that fit their needs.

Decades of experience, knowledge and skill.

You only have to look back at the Heliventures story to believe us when we say that Agricultural Aviation is us and we love it!

From its humble beginnings based out of a paddock in Oamaru in 2011 with one helicopter and the first agricultural work on the books, to today where we operate out of Oamaru Airport covering most of the South Island - Otago, South Canterbury and the MacKenzie Country with the recent addition of a base at Pukaki Airport.

We have a crew of highly experienced pilots and ground crew who are passionate about the services Heliventures has to offer, in particular our agricultural services. Many of our staff have agricultural backgrounds which means they understand exactly what the farmer requires. Our team hold all relevant qualifications to ensure they are providing the highest level of service possible and completing the job in the most efficient and safe manner. Whether it is seeding, fertiliser application, mustering, or spraying we have the equipment and the team for the job.

We use GPS mapping through TracMap to provide proof of placement for our agricultural work. Many of our clients require this for farm keeping records and we find this system meets their needs perfectly. If a farmer isn't familiar with this system we can talk them through the set up easily and the end result is something that can electronically send us details of paddocks requiring work and then maintaining an electronic record of this upon completion.

Heliventures power line stringing in Keri Keri

Wed, 16 Sep 2020 03:01:47 GMT

Heliventures NZ was engaged by Network Waitaki to string new power lines for Top Energy between Kaikohe and Ngawha substations near Kerikeri, Northland during June and July this year.

This is part of the Ngawha expansion programme to commission a new 31.5MW geothermal power station early next year.

Our role in this large project was to assist Network Waitaki with the tension stringing of the double circuit 110kV line. We were able to drastically reduce the time required to complete part of this job by using our specialised side pull hook on the helicopter to string the new conductor from pole to pole rather than pulling the line on rolling terrain from the ground.

We used one of our McDonnell Douglas 520N Notar helicopters on this job. These helicopters are perfect for this type of work due to their great manoeuvrability, and added safety feature of having no tail rotor which also reduces noise output significantly.

This was a fantastic example of good communication, coordination and cooperation to get the contract completed on time.

As well as pulling and replacing lines Heliventures can also conduct line inspections to identify potential hazards. Get in touch to find out more about this as well as our other Heli Services.

Not all Heroes wear capes

Sat, 30 May 2020 02:49:41 GMT

Heliventures Matt Irving has been awarded an Australian Bravery Decoration

Back in 2018 Heliventures pilot Matt Irving was working over in a mine in the Northern Territory of Australia when he received a call about two travellers stranded in rising flood waters.

A local publican had gone down to the McArthur River to check the water level when he discovered the two men trapped on the roof of their vehicle.

The two men had attempted to drive their camper van over a bridge to get to the nearby pub, but had stalled after driving into rising floodwaters on the Tablelands Highway. As the water level began to rise, they clambered up onto the roof of their camper van and had been trapped there for 24hours before being spotted.

After the police were called, they contacted the mine to see if it had a helicopter available. Mr Irving was then contacted and asked if he could pull the rescue operation off.

Matt and John Waerea, a member of the mine’s rescue team worked with the emergency services to plan the rescue.

Mr Irving carefully manoeuvred his helicopter between trees and delicately hovered above the camper van.

From there, Mr Waerea was able to jump on to the roof of the camper van that was being rocked by the fast flowing river.

“It’s something you have to do smoothly and gently, and with trees being so close I didn’t have the room to move in there, It was dicey .. this was right at the end of the day so it was getting dark, and it was their wet season so there was rain and clouds.”

One at a time the two men were assisted aboard and everyone involved in the rescue was flown to safety.

A representative from the mine nominated Matt and and John for an Australian Bravery Decoration, for their acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

The bravery medal Mr Irving has been awarded is the third-highest Australian Bravery Decoration.

“It’s pretty cool – it’s a hard thing to swallow, though, You are just doing what you do.

Everybody has their skill set, and I just used mine.” - Matt

Tower replacement at Craigieburn Cutting

Tue, 19 May 2020 00:27:06 GMT

Heliventures partnered with Broadspectrum and Kahu helicopters to perform a transmission tower replacement at the Craigieburn Cutting.

In the months leading up to it Heliventures flew crew in to hand dig the holes as it is a very remote location and they were not able to use mechanical excavators.

Once the holes were dug and lined we used our MD 520N to lower the conductor. The Blackhawk then flew in and removed the old poles, and then flew in the new super structure poles into the pre-dug holes. The pilot hovered while crews manually flew and compacted around the holes with shovels and hand tools.

We then raised the conductor back up and then line was re-commissioned. All together this job was done over the 4 days.

Heliventures precision lifting in Otago Gold Mines

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 02:04:57 GMT

Aerial Assistance for Oceana Gold conductor stringing

The crew at Heliventures teamed up once again with Network Waitaki a local lines company whom they have a long standing relationship with. This was for the purpose of providing aerial assistance by way of conductor stringing at Oceana Gold at Macraes recently to help with their power supply.

Oceana Gold is a multinational gold producer who have been mining at the Macraes Gold field in Otago for around 30 years and is the largest gold producing operation in New Zealand.

Heliventures was able to offer aerial assistance during the planning and re-design of powerlines in the Frasers pit. The current supply conductors were relocated in order to to continue developing and maintaining services for Frasers underground activity.

Due to the changes in elevation of the pit walls, the most effective way to undertake this project was via helicopter.

Heliventures uses a specialised side hook pulling system to assist with installation of new or replacement conductors. Coupled with our pilots extensive experience and skill, this method speeds up projects and ensures minimal downtime.

Pests not Pets! How are wallabies affecting New Zealand?

Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:04:37 GMT

Wallabies were first introduced to New Zealand in 1870 for the purpose of sport, hunting and for the value of their skins.

Since then their numbers have increased and they can now be found in Canterbury, Otago and areas of the North Island. However, A Landcare report says they could cover a third of the country in 50 years and cost the economy almost $100 million a year in lost revenue. Their reach is growing and studies have found that they could spread to cover a third of the country if left unchecked.

Why is this a problem? Despite their fluffy, harmless appearance, wallabies are having a catastrophic effect on New Zealand both environmentally and economically.

Wallabies live in the dense native New Zealand bush and like rabbits, they are eating their way through it. Feeding on seedlings and damaging tussock grasslands and young pine trees that native birds and animals rely on for food and shelter.

Who is responsible ?

The wallaby containment area in South Canterbury covers more than 450,000 hectares of land across Hunter Hills, Albury, Kirkilston and Two Thumb Range. However these pests are now being seen in other areas and containing them is becoming more and more of a problem.

It is currently the responsibility of land occupiers within the containment area as well as local government to maintain the wallaby numbers. And if you farm within the containment area you have to pay for wallaby control on the land. But is this enough or should this problem be taken more seriously? It is estimated that wallabies are currently causing around $28 million a year in damages and it is costing individual land owners and local government approximately $1.38 million a year to keep their numbers at a safe level and land owners are using aerial pest control, poison and hunting to do this.

A recent story from TVNZ highlights their devastating effect on the country and how the team Heliventures and Trap and Trigger are helping to stop it.

Aerial Pest Control & Thermal Imaging

Heliventures provides a number of pest control application services which aim to assist land managers in the protection of their land and native wildlife from Wallabies and various other types of pests.

The team at Trap and Trigger have perfected their thermal imaging systems which is ideal for aerial surveys. This technology is ideal for detecting animals that live in dense areas of the bush such as wallabies. This makes it possible to locate animals for removal or determine whether a species has been eradicated from an area.

Efficiencies of aerial thermal imaging for assisting in wildlife management is far greater than what can be achieved on the ground. Having no restrictions to topography and vegetation gives the upper hand in the battle against pests.

Why helicopters are better than planes!

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 20:32:25 GMT

Why a scenic flight in a helicopter should be on your bucket list?

Have you ever taken a private flight on on helicopter? Or has it always been on your list of things to try but you just havn't managed it yet? If no then why not? Taking a private helicopter flight should be on your bucket list, especially if you live in or are traveling in New Zealand.

Why flying by Helicopter is better than by plane....

It's an ADVENTURE!

There is no doubt that flying in an airplane is great and even more so if its a private charter, but helicopter rides add a layer of wonder. There is so much more you can experience in a helicopter. You can get closer to landmarks and land in places that don't have a runway, so you’ll be able to experience the land and sky around you in a totally new and exciting way.

Helicopters have LIFT - this gives them them the ability to fly straight up, down or hover, something that planes definitely can't do. If you want to discover the world in a whole new way, helicopters are the way to do it.

It's your experience!

Planes and private jets can be affected by runway closures while helicopters can take off from almost anywhere. When you book a private charter almost everything is customisable. When you leave, where you take off from, where you land and so much more. Whether you fancy an unforgettable transfer from the east coast down to Queenstown or you want to make a memorable entrance at your wedding reception, helicopters can be a part of the occasion.

Privacy and comfort

Gone are the days of having your seat kicked by the person behind you or having to endure the screams of a crying toddler. Chartering a private helicopter flight means you’re only spending your time in the air with your loved ones, and of course, the pilot!

Kick back and be stress free...

Airlines can be notorious for delays for various reasons and sometimes for no obvious reason at all. Private helicopters give you flexible availability and departures, all without the fear of missing a connecting flight. Whats more you don’t have to worry about rushing through pre-flight checks or getting a pat-down if you set the metal detector off at security . Since you get to decide when you leave, there is no rushing or wading through crowds.

Leave the stress at home when you travel and Go on an adventure!

Stunning South Island Scenic Flights

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:59:20 GMT

Can't decide what to see, then see it all!

If you're traveling in New Zealand and can't decide what should top your list of places to go then why not go to them all. With a Scenic flight you can explore some of the most unique landscapes and features of the Waitaki region.

On our Coastal route we will fly you along the beautiful and rugged Waitaki coastline where you can marvel at the ‘Global Must-See’ Moeraki Boulders. These are possibly some of the most photographed rocks and boulders in New Zealand!

Moeraki Boulders

The Moeraki Boulders are a group of large spherical “stones” on Koekohe Beach near Moeraki on the Otago coast. These unusually large and spherical ‘concretions’ lie scattered along a stretch of wave-cut Koekohe Beach between Hampden and Moeraki.

T hese boulders have been exposed through shoreline erosion from coastal cliffs. Even today, there are still boulders remaining in the mudstone that will, eventually, fall on to the beach as they come loose due to erosion!

Puketapu

From there the helicopter will Circle the sacred hill of Puketapu - the volcanic gateway to the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark. The sacred hill of Puketapu is actually an extinct volcano and the traditional site of the wreck of the Arai Te Uru canoe of Māori legends.

Alternatively, take the Valley route and experience the braided Waitaki River which is home to unique wildlife. Wonder at the working Parkside Limestone Quarry where this natural ancient stone is cut from the hillside. In 1906 the first stone formed from the fossils of ancient sea creatures, was quarried here. This high grade creamy limestone produced here was used to build Ōamaru’s iconic Opera House.

Elephant Rocks

Soar over the ‘Valley of the Whales’ where you can photograph the world famous Elephant Rocks. These rocks are part of the Vanished World Trail, the Elephant Rocks are the weathered remnants of the Otekaike Limestone formation.

T he formations vary from 1–10 metres across and are naturally scattered around a grass paddock on a gentle hillside.

Or you can choose to design your own scenic flight package and see it all!

Aerial views of the flooding in Gore

Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:09:18 GMT

Parts of the Southland town were evacuated earlier this week as the Mataura River rose and heavy rain fell.

The Eastern Southland town of Gore is in clean up mode after the River flooded causing part of the town to be evacuated on Wednesday 5th February.

Civil Defence and Southland District Council have a huge task ahead, as they try to contact hundreds of urban and rural residents in the aftermath of the week's flooding.

Heliventures was busy this morning assisting with the evacuation and moving people from A to B. Throughout the day Matt was able to take some aerial pictures showing the level of flooding at present in the Gore area.

The local communities have been working on the clean-up in flooded areas of Southland this week, as the water slowly disappears and the full extent of the damage is revealed.

The Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage will be flying over the most flood-affected areas of Fiordland to assess the damage caused to DOC facilities.

Helicopter Thermal Imaging making a difference

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 07:40:20 GMT

Thermal imaging technology set to make a big difference for helicopter search missions

Environment Canterbury has tested a new tool in its fight to stop the spread of wallabies this winter.

ECan, along with wildlife removal and conservation company Trap and Trigger and Heliventures NZ, flew three test operations with thermal animal-detection equipment to detect and kill the invasive pest in areas outside South Canterbury’s "containment area" where the animals are known to have spread.

In 10 hours’ flying this winter covering about 10,000ha, primarily focused on the south bank of the Waitaki River, the new "cross-check" layer in ECan’s wallaby control resulted in only one wallaby being detected and killed.

However, ECan biosecurity team leader Brent Glentworth called it a positive result.

The technology still had its limits and its precision as a surveying tool was not yet known, but if there had been a high number of wallabies in the areas, they would have been detected, he said.

"When we were doing that flying on the south bank, we were picking up a lot of animals, hares and rabbits in scrub — we know we can find really small animals," Mr Glentworth said.

"We’re confident that there’s not lots and lots of wallabies out there, but we’re also aware that it’s not the be-all and end-all. We can’t just rely on thermal imaging; we can’t say ‘We’ve flown it and found nothing’."

read the full article here:

The Heliventures History

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 07:20:31 GMT

Success built on passion, hard work

Everyone loves to hear a good news story about a kiwi company rising from humble beginnings to be a success story Heliventures New Zealand Ltd is a shining example. Craig McMillan grew up living and breathing helicopters.

His parents owned a helicopter company in the 80’s that they operated from their Oamaru home until the business was sold.

Inheriting his late father’s passion for aviation, Craig carried on sweeping the hangar floors, becoming ground crew and eventually gaining all his licenses, enabling him to work for operators throughout the South Island doing mostly agricultural work.

Around 2010 Craig met Nicki, but had only known her for a short time before he adventured off to Canada to fly helicopters looking for minerals and transporting drilling crews out the back of beyond in the Yukon.

Returning in 2011, Nicki and Craig became partners in life and business, making the bold decision to start a heli-business from scratch.

“We were both 24 years olds when our first helicopter arrived—an MD-520N Notar— with no clients on the books,” says Nicki.

“We just worked very hard at building up our client base—operating from the same bare paddock Craig’s parents used to operate from—doing agricultural work in those days.”

Seven years later, the business operates five MD-520N Notars and one B2 Squirrel from both Oamaru and Invercargill Airports, with a team of six pilots, seven ground crew plus administration staff and has expanded to include commercial, agricultural and scenic operations.

From Oamaru, Heliventures NZ cover South Canterbury, North Otago and over to Central Otago right through to Mount Cook and as far south as Palmerston. From Invercargill, Heliventures NZ flies to Stewart Island up to Balclutha and across to Te Anau.

“All our helicopters are fitted out with leather interiors, so they can be used for passenger flights as well as agricultural services including fertiliser spreading, spraying and seeding,” says Nicki.

C omplementing its agricultural, scenic and charter work Heliventures NZ provides an impressive array of commercial operations, as Nicki explains.

“We do mustering and animal control, including the culling of deer, goat and wallabies and we specialise in live animal capture.

“ We’ve just done some live wallaby capture so they can be fitted with GPS tracking collars. We do fire fighting and lighting, especially useful in high country for tussock burn-off.

“We’re kept busy frost fighting for vineyards and orchards over winter and we do survey work power line conductor stringing and fault finding. Our pilots also do a lot of precision lifts, film, photography, hunting and fishing trips”

Heliventures NZ has recently teamed up with local jet boating company Braided River jet Boating to provide a heli-jet boat combo experience on the Waitaki River.

Proud of Heliventures NZ’s growth and development, Craig and Nicki put it down to a passion for the business itself, a huge amount of hard work and a remarkable team.

“We all live and breathe the business and put so much effort into it. Our team is so passionate about Heliventures NZ as well. We’re lucky to have such a good team because we couldn’t do it without their support.”

Heliventures Fire Fighting in action

Thu, 12 Sep 2019 07:11:50 GMT

Helicopters have become an essential tool in firefighting and are used not only to fight the flames and reduce the potential spread of a fire, but also to transport equipment as well as workforce to the scene.

About 25 firefighters from Omarama, Kurow and Twizel rushed to the scene in Broken Hut Road, south of Omarama, after a fire erupted about when a large number of hay bales ignited.

However the Heliventures crew helping battle a two hectare blaze at Omarama were temporarily grounded due to reports of a drone being flown in the area.

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand (Fenz) spokeswoman confirmed the helicopters were grounded for a short period following reports of a drone near the Broken Hut Road property.

The spokeswoman said no drone was able to be located and both helicopters were back operating as normal about 5pm.

Fire crews were "doing their best to get the fire under control" in hot and windy conditions.

The helicopters go to the front alongside firefighters and tankers to fight the fire before it ravages everything in its path t hey are typically used at the edge of the fire to prevent expansion. If any smaller fires exist on the periphery, helicopters can also be used to extinguish them.

Helicopters accomplish their aerial work using equipment designed specifically for firefighting. There are several water bombing techniques. For example, there are two kinds of buckets that attach under the helicopter to dump the water on the fire. Depending on the size and power of the helicopter used, hundreds or even thousands of liters of water can be dropped on each pass. The pilot can fill the bucket either in a lake, a river, or even a pool, when the approach is safe.

For more information on precision lifting and Heliventures other Commercial services, get in touch.