Helicopters New Zealand New Plymouth Branch

Hon. Minister Gerry Brownlee Visits HNZ New Plymouth

2009-07-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

Prior to travelling offshore with Australian Wordlwide Exploration Ltd., Minster Brownlee, along with local National MP Johnathan Young, visited HNZ NP. Minister Brownlee is the Minister for Economic Development, Minister of Energy & Resources, Leader of the House and Associate
Minister for the Rugby World Cup. Both were quite impressed of our professional staff, our installation, and our attention to detail ensuring the best in customer quality service to our clients. He commented specifically on the helicopters, our installation and how

HNZ contributes to the
Taranaki oil industry, and the total dedication of our fine staff. We couldn't have been more thrilled with the remarks of all who were in attendance.

HNZ New Plymouth Featured in the Taranaki Daily News

2009-07-06T18:23:00.000-07:00

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!Recently, HNZ NP was featured on the front page of the business section of the Taranaki Daily News. This articled featured the D check on HNI and how we are helping local businesses prosper in a time of recession.
For more information, check out the exciting full article at:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/business/2548157/Chopper-checking-a-boost

Shot!

HNZ Purchases The Neil O'Connor Trust Hangar

2009-04-02T11:04:00.000-07:00

As of 1 April 2009, HNZ Ltd., has purchased the Neil O'conner Trust Hangar next to our installation in New Plymouth.

This hangar is a fine logistical addition to our current infrastructure and will serve many facets of our engineering operations in place.

Currently, a 3000 hour check is being completed on one of our Bell 412's in this hangar. Future renovations and plans are unfolding for this multipurpose hangar.

Farewell Brendan - We will miss you!!

2009-04-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

You can always tell how much you are loved by the amount of people who attend your leaving dinner - Brendan was no exception.

Brendan Cahill's going away dinner was hosted at the Aborio. Well attended and full of cheer, friends, family and co workers joined in saying "adios". Brendan is heading to

our operation in Australia and will be piloting AW139's in Karratha.

You are well loved and your attention to detail, your work ethic, and your loyalty will certainly be missed. Fair winds!!

HNZ Golf Team Finishes Strong!

2009-03-01T13:45:00.000-08:00

HNZ was pleased to represent hole 14 (par 3) at Westown Golf Course, New Plymouth for the 6th annual SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) Golf Tournement. The primary aim of the tournement was to bring people together from the oil and gas industry and spending a wonderful afternoon on the golf course.

The tournement also raised funds for the SPE(NZ) enducational trust scholorship. The objectives of this scholorship are to encourage high calibre New Zealand under-graduate students to persue engineering careers in the oil and gas sector as well as improve the image of the industry.

HNZ Golf team finished 5 under for the day - 10th out of 25 teams. Looking forward to next year. Maybe we will have TWO teams. Congratualations!!

Hail and Farewell

2009-01-01T14:08:00.000-08:00

It is my privilage to say welcome aboard to Kodee Rona. Kodee will be working with Devlin in supply and looking at better utilization for supply spaces in the future. Kodee has over 11 years of procurement expericence and is a welcome addition to HNZ NP. Welcome!

Sadly we had to say goodbye to Emma Souness who worked temporarily in dispatch during school break. Emma is working on her commerce degree at Victoria University in Wellington. Thanks for the great work effort - you will be missed. Fair winds!!

Welcome to Jo & Dee

2008-11-26T15:42:00.000-08:00

We would like to welcome our two new Staff members, Jo & Dee. Jo and Dee have been employed under Helicopters NZ and are looking forward to enhancing our security posture. Welcome aboard.

All the best Jo & Dee for new adventures at HNZ!!

MOVEMBER!!

2008-11-04T13:23:00.000-08:00

Well, as you all know, it's Movember time again! Time for the guys to grow your Mo's. Let's see who can get the best by the end of Movember.

Men's health is a major issue. Did you know:

Depression affects 1 in 10 men....Most people who experience depression make a full recovery. The first step is seeking help.
Last year in New Zealand 2,700 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 600 died of prostate cancer - (that's nearly two each day).

The money raised by Movember is used to raise awareness of men's health issues and donated to the Cancer Society of New Zealand and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. These two charities will use the money raised to fund research and increase support networks for those affected with prostate cancer and experiencing depression.

Team HNZ NP has registered on the nationwide website. If you want to collect a donation register form, please see Trudy.

For further details please go to the link below

http://www.movember.com/

So grow your Mo's boys!!!!

Ferry Flight

2008-11-03T15:09:00.000-08:00

Russell Pirihi & Brian Dravitzki from Helicopters NZ New Plymouth, Roger Shugrue & Lance Gibson from Helicopters Australia are making there way back from Italy to Australia in a new Agusta AW139.

They departed from Italy on the 30th Oct and are expected to arrive in Australia around the 13th November, after having a numbers of stop overs in different places.

Please click on the link and check out there progress and where they are at!!!!
http://www.ferryflight.ksphotography.net.au/

Hope you enjoy...

G'day to Roger Shugrue! We will miss you!

2008-09-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

When considering a working trip to New Zealand where do you start? The task of qualifying on the AW139; the fantastic staff that make up the New Plymouth team or the spectacular scenery surrounding Mt. Taranaki? All the above.

Recently we had the pleasure of having one of our pilots here from HNZ Australia - Roger Shugrue. "Perhaps the weather is the place to start as it played a significant role in my introduction to New Plymouth…. it rained continuously for the first 15 day!!", indicates Roger. "I was becoming fairly certain that this Pozzy (Pome / Ozzy) was the centre of a running joke as I was told daily that there was in fact a large mountain buried in the cloud. It was not until day 16 that I finally saw the snow covered peak of the mountain and realized I was not the butt of some light hearted Kiwi Ozzy ribbing." Roger was here to qualify on the Aw139. "As to the task of qualifying on the 139 that in itself became an interesting challenge as the bureaucracy of licensing kicked in followed by a technical problem that grounded the 139 just in time for my flight test with the CAA. I was left with the option of completing a full recognition flight test on the Bell 412….an aircraft I had not flown for 14 years!! Fortunately all turned out well despite another dose of New Zealand weather."

Roger was in and out of the New Plymouth installation, we were hoping he would stay here in New Plymouth! Roger further goes on to talk about the personalities that make up the team in New Plymouth . "Firstly, let me thank all of the staff in New Plymouth for their hospitality and for making me feel really welcome. It was a real pleasure meeting you all and I sincerely hope I get other opportunities to come back to New Plymouth to work with you all again. It would however, be remiss of me not to mention a few individuals for their particular help. Trudy for her assistance in all things daily, Harry for his ever present credit card, Brendan for guiding me safely through my check ride and a special thank you to Russell who has suffered the endless headache of sorting out my licensing difficulties ….a big thank you to you all!" "My best wishes to every one in New Plymouth."

Thanks for the kind words Roger Dodger!! You will be sorely missed.

Ensco 56 is back!!

2008-08-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

Ensco 56 had been held up at Port Taranaki due to inconvenient weather. It had been towed from Tasman Bay/Nelson to a new drilling site off Awakino but the forecast held the rig in at Port. Ensco 56 was moved on the 26th August and has headed to Awakino to start drilling again.

Originally, Ensco 56 is the same rig that drilled the Pohokura production wells off Motunui and has been contracted to drill the Awakino South Exploration well for a Singapore based company STP Energy. Following this the rig will then move to another location in the Exploration licence area to drill another well (Kahu 1). Welcome back Ensco 56!

Scale Model Helicopter Competition

2008-08-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

Engineer Craig Anderson has built a scale model helicopter 1:7.6 (1.5 meters long) scale of HNI Bell 412, powered by a methanol .67 cubic inch motor. The 4 - blade head makes it harder to fly but look very realistic. It has taken Craig almost three years to build and invested quite a bit of time and money into his hobby.

Craig's hard slog has paid off by enabling him to place first in a Scale Model Helicopter Competition in Rotorua on the 23rd & 24th August 2008. Congratulations Craig!! We are proud of you!!

Taharoa Express Rides Again!

2008-07-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Dave Sowman loading food supplies onto the “Taharoa Express” at Taharoa using pre-loaded cage baskets which we designed for the job. This contract at Taharoa which is on the West Coast between New Plymouth and Auckland is for New Zealand Steel Mining.

The ships take black sand which is surfaced mined by dredge from the local sand hills and transported to the ship which is tied up to a buoy about one mile offshore. The sand is pumped out through a pipe line in water mix slurry. The water then is drained from the ship overboard.

Generally the sand goes to China or Japan to make steel. This contract is the longest running contract in the HNZ Group, initially starting 36 years ago on 21 October 1962. This vessel is the largest ship that comes into New Zealand waters. Kudos to Jim Wilson for providing the write-up and photos.

HNZ on the Cover of The Oily Rag

2008-07-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

It was our pleasure to have onboard Paul Hartigan and Peter Walker from Bay Engineers Supplies. They were here to present us with a framed copy of The Oily Rag - a monthly magazine that is specifically designed for engineers to order parts and supplies. Each month, they feature different photographs from New Zealand companies they distribute to.

This month we are honoured to have Bay Engineers highlight HNZ on the front cover. Devlin Williams, Supply Officer for HNZ NP, is presented with this fine plaque which is now hanging in both the Engineering spaces and the main entrance way to our establishment. Well done guys!!

Pilots Return From Italy 139 Training

2008-06-05T01:43:00.001-07:00

Two of our pilots (Rick Lord and Alex Carroll) have just returned from 139 simulator training in Italy. Their sim instructor was Rob Carr, ex-military from the British Army and Royal Navy then out to civilian flying on police and rescue type work before coming over to Rotorsim.

"A good guy, practical and thorough, relaxed in the sim but firm enough to not let you get away with anything, first class all round", states Allan. "Types of training involved were sorties, sim, external power start, and ground taxi manoeuvres, and basic emergencies just to name a few. An extensive training schedule. We did get a bit of a chance to enjoy Italy".

"There is an internet room and international direct dial calls are free so keeping in touch with home is not too much of a hassle, the canteen is open at 1200 and the grub is free unless you get certain items. Think rig food (not hot cuisine) but, not bad either)".

Well done fellas and welcome back!

Ensco 56 Headed to Nelson

2008-06-05T01:42:00.001-07:00

The 143m-high, 53m-wide rig, which has been drilling off the coast of Taranaki, marked the completion of the Pohokura gas field and is headed to Port Nelson for a refit before moving onto its next project.

As the rig was heading out past Mount Egmont, our pilots were conducting training and were able to capture some incredible pictures. These pictures were taken by Russell Pirihi.

The Ensco 56 is described as a self-elevating "jackup" rig, and is operated by Shell under a Liberian flag. It can drill to 7620m, has a heliberth and can accommodate almost 100 people.

Local School Pays a Visit

2008-06-05T01:41:00.001-07:00

On 29 May, Senior Pilot John Anderson organized a visit from the New Plymouth Play centre to see some of our helicopters in action. All the children (and adult chaperons) were given a brief on some of the general aspects of our new installation.

They were allowed to observe take offs and approach from our briefing room. John, Brian, and Craig were instrumental in providing information on piloting and engineering - quite possibly a future pilot or engineer?

Afterwards, the children were allowed to sit in one of the helicopters in the hanger. All in all, they had a good time (I do believe the parents had more fun!).