Chopper Ready

Zane Smith (Ngāti Māmoe, Rakiura Māori) has never been interested in fixed-wing aircraft but mention helicopters and he comes alive. He's been a helicopter fan for as long as he can remember. Nā Adrienne Rewi.

Sitting in the office of his new company, Rakiura Helicopters Ltd (complete with miniature helicopter on the windowsill), Zane talks modestly about an exciting, hard-working lifestyle that has seen him achieve his dream at just 34.

Born and bred on Stewart Island, Zane kicked off his working life as a full-time commercial cray-fisherman and pāua diver. While his father, Phillip Smith (Ngāti Māmoe, Rakiura Māori), set up the first kiwi-spotting adventure, Zane bought his own boat at 21 and spent the next 12 years fishing commercially around Rakiura and Fiordland.

"When we fished in Fiordland, helicopters were our only way of getting in and out to and from the boat, so I developed good relationships with the helicopter pilots in the area. I loved the freedom of helicopters – and the adrenalin buzz – and when I finally did a trial flight in 2003, I fell in love with them."

He pulls back the huge green door of his new hangar in Fern Gully to reveal a shiny blue Hughes 500-E – a multi-bladed machine designed to cope with southern New Zealand's notoriously rugged and unpredictable weather conditions.

It's the first (and only) helicopter to be based on Stewart Island. Zane has big plans.

That's no surprise to anyone who knows him. Zane is passionate about Rakiura.

Working with veteran pilot Peter Innes, he sees great potential to establish a safe, viable business supplying helicopter services to the Department of Conservation, hunters, trampers, tourists and mutton-birders. He's been working single-mindedly towards this goal for several years.

After gaining his private helicopter licence with Invercargill's Foveaux Helicopters in 2004, he sold his crayfishing boat and became a student at Nelson Aviation College in Motueka – followed by a stint flying with world-renowned flying instructor Simon Spencer-Bower at Wānaka.

With his commercial licence safely tucked into his back pocket, he headed to Australia's Northern Territories, where he spent two years working for a heli-musterer. He also flew tourists into the Northern Territories' Katherine Gorge. Back on Stewart Island in 2007, he returned to pāua diving for a few months before he started flying at Makarora's exclusive Cedar fishing lodge.

"At the same time I spent 18 months wading through red tape to get this hangar up," he says with a sweep of his arm.

"We had to do a lot of groundwork before we could even begin construction."

Zane took his usual hands-on approach and helped build the 22x16 metre hangar and has been working from there since last year.

"When I started having flying lessons in 2003, I knew I wanted to have my own helicopter and hangar. It's been a battle getting here but I got there in the end."

Zane, chairman of Stewart Island Search and Rescue, is confident Rakiura Helicopters can provide an exceptional service. He breaks into a smile when it is suggested his hard work has paid off.

"When I'm out there at the controls I feel an incredible sense of freedom and excitement. I love the challenge of flying, and helicopters are a very good tool to do what I want to do around here."

He reckons he spent up to $100,000 earning his tickets. "I got my training when I could afford it, and that investment has now paid for itself. It's been a huge investment in time, energy and money, but there's nowhere on Stewart Island I can't get to in under 25 minutes. That's got to be a big plus for hunters, trampers and tourists – even more so in the event of an emergency."

He runs his hand along the side of the Hughes 500 with pride, although he wishes he had washed it for the photograph. "You have to have up to 10 hours ground tuition before you can even hover one of these things," he says, climbing aboard for the photo.

"It's all about co-ordination. It's a bit like learning to ride a bike – it seems impossible and then suddenly, one day, you just get it."