Peter Harker

[madmax]

Beechcraft UC-45 s/n447506 was based at Rongotai aerodrome during the latter stage of WW2. On one occassion its occupants had a lucky escape when landing there in low visability it either struck a rock outcrop in Lyall Bay or contacted Moa Point hill severely damaging the starboard u/c which collapsed upon touchdown

[Dave Homewood]

Chinese spray plane...

[madmax]

The trail of Peter Harker appears to hsve gone cold leaving me to conclude he was the product of someones furtive imagination

[thomarse]

I'm hopeful that Baronbeeza will be able to help. He hasn't logged-on since this thread was started

[madmax]

I'm interested to discover the truth about this individual as some of his tales appear too far fetched to be true

[delticman]

Nov 9, 2022 17:15:33 GMT 12 madmax said:

I'm interested to discover the truth about this individual as some of his tales appear too far fetched to be true

It's possible that he might have been related to Sam Cash.

[oj]

"Chinese spray plane... "

Nice artwork Dave.
Looks like a James Air 402 or 440 in the background.
The battery cart is still in RNZAF Ground Equipment Yellow however ...

[Dave Homewood]

It is not artwork, that is a real paintjob on a SAFE Bristol Freighter for the Disney film "The Rescue".

[baronbeeza]

Hi guys, I am on to this.
I have not been on here for a while and just got the messages.

I have some friends that were about in those days so I will put all this to them.
Cheers

Edit.

Ok, I have read some of the thread.
We will get some answers for sure.
I know two Pete Baileys and can talk to the Westport one. I doubt it is the aircraft engineer from Nelson.

I have heard the name Pete Harker but can't recall ever meeting him. It is also not a name I have stories about. Glenny Johnson and Terry Boucher, yes.

I have names of people that were there, and close.
Pete Lusk, Flag McKenzie and Rob Ray. I chat to all on the Internet weekly.
Pete Bailey lives just 2 or 3 minutes away, I can drop in to see him.

I expect to have answers within days.

[baronbeeza]

What would a Chinese microlight look like ?

www.facebook.com/groups/515387392459708/posts/1096555874342854/

[dustyredgodfrey]

I never met this chap but have heard of him on many occasions. 

He supposedly  worked for a while at the now defunked coaltown museum in Westport and owned a bantam microlight.
The bamboo bomber  was  a Chinese designed and built single seat, first generation microlight.
This was later later converted to a two seater but tragically crashed in the hills behind Greymouth with two on board
 

[NZ1009]

Just returned from NZ where I had access to my books.

Peter Harker's publications (all by reputable publishers) include:

- Weekly column in the Christchurch Star-Sun (evening paper)
- Hunting with Harker - 1976 - 138 Pages - 124 photos - AH & AW Reed
- Harker Hunts the Coast - 1982 - 135 Pages - AH & AW Reed
- Those Were the Days - Hunting the way it used to be - 2001 - 304 Pages - Halcyon Press
- Random Shots - 2005 - 191 Pages - Halcyon Press

He briefly writes about the Chinese microlight in Random Shots:

- It had the designation B3C
- It was designed by the Aeronautical Division of a prominent Beijing university
- Arrived in NZ in a shipment of engineering parts
- Was labelled 'Bamboo Bomber' by someone in Westport

I doubt there was much formal oversight of microlights on the West Coast last century.

Maybe a clue to the validity of his story is the fact that his books contain lots of photos
showing himself and friends in many remote places. Crump's books only contained line drawings.

I think he had a life well lived with some significant accomplishments. On his death rather sad
on a public forum to see others trying to take him down on the basis of what they don't know
(I have never heard of him and it is not on Google so cannot be true!) rather than on the basis
of what they do know.

Hunting with Harker by
Harker Hunts the Coast by
Those Were the Days by
Random Shots by

[Dave Homewood]

Prom Papers Past

PRESS, 21 MARCH 1967
BIRTHS
HARKER — On March 18. 1967. at Alice Ward, Hokitika, to Julie and Peter Harker —a son (Dean Kendrick Alexander). Both well.


PRESS, 21 DECEMBER 1968
PETER Harker guide maps on where to shoot deer, chamois and thar, are available free at Hutchinson White, Ltd.


PRESS, 30 JUNE 1969
Deer-Shooting
Sir, —I also feel the same way as K. J. Madden, but it will never eventuate that the last deer will be shot and helicopters, although taking an extensive quantity, do assist in making stalking extremely easy in bush areas. Last year I was a member of a group of stalkers who were being guided by the well-known Peter Harker. Hunting on the steep mountain faces had its rewards, but deer were very hard to recover once shot This year I joined the same party under the same guide, but helicopters had patrolled the mountain tops, so our hunting took part on the side creeks of the same mountain. Our tally was just as good. There were at least as many deer and the animals were a lot calmer.
—Yours, etc., RON TRUMAN. June 26, 1969.


PRESS, 19 JUNE 1970
SPORTING GOODS
FREE use of rifles, shot guns, ammo, and over $2OO worth of prizes for those wishing to try the revolutionary new single point sight at Hutchinson Whites. Demonstration shoot at the Deerstalker Associaition range this Sunday at Kaituna Valley, 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Slides and talk about the sight will be given by well-known shooter and writer, Peter Harker. That’s this Sunday at Hutchinson White’s Free Shoot.


PRESS, 1 MARCH 1975
Otago support for trout ‘on demand’
("The Press" Special Service) DUNEDIN, February 28.
Trout farming — an idea which has provoked as much opposition in New Zealand as it has support — may soon supply South Island acclimatisation societies with live rainbow and brown trout “on demand.”

The Otago Acclimatisation Society on Thursday night fully supported a proposal by a Christchurch man, Mr Neil Isaac, to go ahead with a trout farm at Harewood on the northern boundaries of Christchurch. With Otago support is an undertaking by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (Mr Moyle) to reopen the whole issue of freshwater fish farming, particularly trout. In a talk to the society Mr Isaac, the owner of Peacock Springs Wildlife Park, where the farm will be developed, said that he could win some support from the acclimatisation societies. The Minister would ask his Cabinet colleague to reconsider commercial trout farming. "I already have the support of the South Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and it is expected that the new council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society will support me in my application for a pilot licence,” Mr Isaac said.

According to Mr Peter Harker, the managing secretary of the Otago society, trout farming in the South Island can be of great benefit to acclimatisation societies and in turn, to anglers. Otago at present purchases rainbow trout from Rotorua, and then they are not always available on demand. If trout farming could be established in the South Island it would mean that the Otago society could obtain trout from Christchurch at the minimum cost. This would enable it to populate more waterways and still waters, make more fishing waters available, and increase fishing. The legislation and regulations existed for fresh fish farming “but still no fish farms,” said Mr Isaac.


PRESS, 24 JULY 1976


PRESS, 2 JULY 1977
FIELD OFFICER
WILD LIFE AND FISHERIES OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY
APPLICATIONS CAN BE made for the following position. This appointment would offer a challenging future for a person having wide angling and hunting experience. The position calls for a good standard of education as written reports, field projects and some management are very important aspects of the position. A vehicle and equipment will be supplied. The successful applicant will be stationed in Dunedin. Written applications stating experience, age, marital status, and enclosing testimonials are to be addressed to: —
MR PETER HARKER, Manager-Secretary. BOX 5224, MORAY PLACE, DUNEDIN.


PRESS, 2 JUNE 1979
WILDLIFE OFFICER
THE OTAGO ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY have a vacancy for the position of Field Officer to be domiciled south of Dunedin. Applicants must have a comprehensive knowledge of fisheries and wildlife. Preference will be given to applicants aged between 25 and 35. For further details write, giving full particulars of age, experience, etc., to: PETER HARKER, Manager, P.O. Box 5224, Moray Place, DUNEDIN.

[Dave Homewood]

Nov 29, 2022 9:39:42 GMT 12 NZ1009 said:

Just returned from NZ where I had access to my books.

Good work and great post, thank you.

He briefly writes about the Chinese microlight in Random Shots:

- It had the designation B3C
- It was designed by the Aeronautical Division of a prominent Beijing university
- Arrived in NZ in a shipment of engineering parts
- Was labelled 'Bamboo Bomber' by someone in Westport

I did a search and found this Chinese microlight, A2C, which sounds so close that there must be a connection?
en.people.cn/n3/2016/0316/c90000-9031289.html

I think he had a life well lived with some significant accomplishments. On his death rather sad
on a public forum to see others trying to take him down on the basis of what they don't know
(I have never heard of him and it is not on Google so cannot be true!) rather than on the basis
of what they do know.

I tend to agree, though I think most here, including myself, were curious about him rather than outright accusing him of telling lies.

[Dave Homewood]

WONZ member Kiwi 172 sent me this info:

"Been following the P J Harker story with interest.

One P J Harker operated the BIAA BEE 3 microlight ZK-FOD for only two months -- between January 1995 and March 1995 when it went back to A A Jasper of Westport.
This was first listed with P W Harpham of Upper Hutt on 05 June 1987
Is this the 'Bamboo Bomber: ?
This was originally a single seater but was modified to two seat (I think unofficially but not sure by whom) and it was lost in a structural failure just out of Greymouth on 01-03-1998. both killed.

He also had the Micro Aviation B22 Bantam ZK-FPD briefly in early 1995 but it was damaged and cancelled as far as I can tell the same month.

He then had the Micro Aviation Bantam B22 ZK-TKM from 16 March 1996 until selling on 2-06-1998 to R R Leech of Hokitika.

That's about all I have."

[NZ1009]

I suspect the first microlight he owned is the "Bamboo Bomber"

BIAA BEE 3 microlight ZK-FOD accident report at aviation-safety.net/wikibase/46444

BIAA BEE 2 (URL includes a photo)
www.all-aero.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1581:biaa-bee-2&catid=59

The Bee 2, designed and manufactured by the Beijing Institute of
Aeronautics and Astronautics is a two-seat microlight. The Rotax
477-powered Chinese microlight cruises at 40 mph, stalls at 27.5 mph and
covers a 120 mile range.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beihang_University

In 1952 the university was named the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics
(BIA). In May 1988 it was renamed to Beijing University of Aeronautics
and Astronautics (BUAA). In 2002 the university changed the English name
of the university to Beihang University but retained the acronym BUAA.

[baronbeeza]

Yes, much later than the years I originally had in mind. I was thinking 60's and 70's for the West Coast venison days.

I was only in Westport for a few weeks during the mid-90's and would have been limited, I was ill both times.

In 1995 I contracted Cerebral Malaria in Tanzania but managed to get back to NZ, and Greymouth Hospital for treatment. I went up to Fiji as soon as I was able afterwards.

In 1996 I had back surgery in ChCh but did just a few weeks recuperating in Westport before heading off to Kalgoorlie and then Indonesia.

I was overseas right through until 2000 so can see now how I missed meeting Peter or hearing much about his aviation days.

[madmax]

Yes, much later than I too thought.
I originally have visions of it being in the 1960/70 era when the aviation scene was much much smaller than it is today and everyone knew eachother.

[ashharker86]

Oct 29, 2022 10:05:43 GMT 12 thomarse said:

Interesting tale on Stuff this morning:

www.stuff.co.nz/national/130306585/legendary-hunter-author-and-a-great-kiwi-bloke--peter-harker-was-a-man-who-knew-how-to-have-fun

I've never heard of this bloke or of the described incidents, plus the "Chinese cropduster" leaves me scratching my head.

Anyone?

[ashharker86]

Nov 7, 2022 19:32:24 GMT 12 madmax said:

The trail of Peter Harker appears to hsve gone cold leaving me to conclude he was the product of someones furtive imagination

He was my father. He’s published several books. Everything in the newspaper articles is accurate. He is definitely not a made-up character lol