1950's Patea Aviation

[Dave Homewood]

This is great, some old coloured home movie of rural life in New Zealand including some nice footage of formation topdressing in Tiger Moths at some sort of country fair, and a de Havilland Beaver also topdressing. And there's an RNZAF Vampire on display at a airshow by the look of it, with other Vampires and a glimpse of a Mosquito too. and a flight in some light aircraft! The date given is 1940 but it's clearly more likely the 1950's.

www.ngataonga.org.nz/collections/catalogue/catalogue-item?record_id=99609

[davidd]

NZART = New Zealand Association (Amateur?) Radio Transmitters - Note the radio call sign on ground in foreground, a dead giveaway. I remember that New Zealand - practically every man wore a hat (certainly all the older ones), and British cars and trucks were almost universal (apart from ex WW2 American trucks and a few pre-WW2 saloon cars). Also various demonstrations of numerous agricultural/pastoral activities. Some horrendous views of a "wheelbarrow race" too, near the end, with boys pushing along girls!!! Surprised to see that, even then! All very peculiar, what would the mothers have thought of that? Although the quality of the film is pretty dire (very hairy and scratchy, and no HD in those days) but at least the film speed is perfectly correct, which is something. Also noticeable that practically everything was done by hand then, even if only to assist and guide insensitive hydraulic equipment. And two Tigers "topdressing" in formation! That's different. Has to be North Island, and most of it looks like autumn or winter. And I agree with Dave, this has to be 1950s, and early 1950s at that, although the various scenes could have been taken over a period of years.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

It is Patea, Taranaki.

Apparently the Tigers were no later than 1955. All the number plates were 1951
-56. The Beavers also dates to 1952.

I wondered if NZART was New Zealand Alpine Rescue Team. Thanks for the actual explanation.

[oj]

And I saw a deluxe model Bradford van just like dad purchased brand new in 1953 for one hundred NZ pounds!