WELCOME
Welcome to the first Club Newsletter for 2025. As you will see, there are a number of upcoming events which provide you with the opportunity of catching up with friends made during your time with Air New Zealand. While the world's geopolitical environment is increasingly fragile, we should make the best of
what we have here in little old New Zealand.
Christmas Lunch
The Xmas lunch was extremely well organised and had a wonderful vibe to it, possibly due to the addition of Jim Joll’s music this year. The meal was as delicious as ever, and the hamper and Xmas wine and chocolate raffles were well received. We had lots of excellent feedback from club members. This event was subsidised at $23 per member. Our Patron Richard Thomson was invited to attend, but unfortunately had to travel with Greg Foran, so was unable to attend the Xmas lunch.
A Life Member badge was presented to Jo Foged, along with a $50 Gift Voucher and card. Gaye mentioned that Jo has not only served 2 terms as President, but has also been a longstanding committee member and she thanked him for his commitment and dedicated long service to the club
UPCOMING EVENT
Helensville Art Trail
WHERE: Helensville
WHEN: Sunday 16 March
WHAT TIME: 10:00 - 16:00 COST: Free
The Helensville Art Trail is an independent tour of open art studios, conveniently situated within three kilometres of central Helensville. Simply head into Helensville for the day, and follow the signposts. All studios have maps and information. Enjoy meeting local artists and gaining an insight into the processes involved in creating a diverse array of artworks. Visitors have the opportunity to purchase a treasure, large or small, directly from the artists should they wish.
We suggest you carpool with your friends. Please complete on the booking form if you would like to pre-book a late cooked breakfast, or café style lunch at the Ginger Crunch Café in the old Railway Station, which is a great place to eat.
Bookings close 07 March
UPCOMING EVENT
Jane Gifford Sail
WHERE: Departs from Warkworth Wharf WHEN: Sunday 23 March
WHAT TIME: 15:00 for an hour long cruise COST: Please pay Direct in Cash - $30.00 per person with Gold Card
The Jane Gifford is moored at the Warkworth Wharf, and the hour long trip down the river departs at 3:00pm.
If you want to make a day of it, go for lunch at the Warkworth Hotel, Tahi Bar or Aldos Restaurant. Or take your own picnic and sit by the riverside, enjoying a stroll before or after the cruise. The Warkworth Museum and the Parry Kauri Park Walk are also worth a visit.
Bookings close 14 March
SAVE THE DATE
18 June 2025 Mid Winter Lunch and AGM
03 December 2025 Christmas Lunch
BEE CARD
As some of our future events may be planned for travelling out of Auckland, you may like to consider applying for the Bee Card. The Bee Card is a prepay smartcard that can be used for local public transport in New Zealand. It can be used on buses, trains, and ferries in participating regions, including Northland, Waikato, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Manawatū-Whanganui, Nelson, Otago, and Invercargill.
What can you use the Bee Card for?
Bus travel: You can use the Bee Card to tag on and off buses in participating regions.
Train travel: You can use the Bee Card on the Te Huia train service between Hamilton and Auckland.
Ferry travel: You can use the Bee Card on ferries in participating regions, such as the Orbus bus networks in Dunedin and Queenstown.
Entertainment & Travel Ideas
Q Theatre - Cirque Alfonse Animal
When: 19 Mar - 23 Mar
Cost: $30 -$69 Concession $59. Show length: 80 minutes
From French-Canadian company Cirque Alfonse, Animal is a show full of pure joy and unpredictability, brought to the stage by the most wholesome troupe of carnies you’ve ever seen. Since 2005 the company has toured internationally, Alongside traditional circus stunts, the show is performed visually through comedy skits, slapstick humour and dance.
Civic Theatre - Six The Musical
When: 27 Feb - 23 March
Cost: $70 - $150 Various times 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7.30 pm
Show length: 80 minutes
Globally celebrated, SIX the Musical has won 35 major international awards, including two prestigious Tony Awards and a Grammy nomination. In this high-octane 80-minute musical experience, the feisty Tudor queens boldly rewrite five hundred years of history. A British musical comedy in the style of a pop concert. Its music, book, and lyrics were written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss. It is a modern retelling of the lives of the six wives of Henry VIII, presented in the form of a singing competition.
Trip a Deal
2 for 1 Borneo starts from AUD4899.00 for two people (surcharge applies ex-Auckland), and includes flights, 8 nights accommodation, 19 meals including daily breakfast, and professional guides. Take a friend and discover the beauty of Borneo’s fauna and flora, immerse yourself in bustling local markets, and explore lush jungles like never before.
Bluff Oyster Festival
Grab your hat, scarf and a winter coat and head to Bluff on Saturday 24 May 2025 for an event filled day of live music, along with oyster opening and eating competitions. Join friendly locals and visitors for a taste of Bluff.
Tickets for the 2025 Bluff Oyster & Food Festival are on sale via Trade Me for NZD50.00 per ticket plus courier fee. Grab yours before they're sold out.
Visit Nelson
Known and loved for its local arts and crafts vibe, and a popular base for vineyards and the Abel Tasman National Park, Nelson is the perfect getaway over summer. Coordinate your visit with the Annual Opera in the Park, or the White Ferns vs Sri Lanka match ODI. Check out Air NZ's Top 10 Things to See and Do In Nelson.
NEW MEMBERS
For those interested, you can now keep in touch via our Facebook Groups page. If you have friends or know of anyone that might wish to join the club, please invite them along to an event so they can see the camaraderie club members enjoy.
Daniel Kamphuis 1988 – 2015 Engineering/Composite Shop
Glenn Poole 1978 – 2013 Engineering
Lindsay Cook 1999 – 2016 Customer Services International Airport
John Ward 1974 – 2017 International
Rubin Levin 1974 – 2018 Cabin Crew
Glennis Matthews 1999 – 2024 Cargo & FSS
OBITUARIES
BLYTHEN, Thomas (Tom) Beloved husband of Beverley and very much loved father and father-in-law of Michelle, Michael, Brett, Terri, and Tony. Wonderful Grandad to Zane, Mitchell, Todd, Daniel and Allison. Great grandfather of four. Ex Air New Zealand crew; from flying boats to 747's. A life well lived. The funeral service for Tom will be held on Tuesday February 4 at 11am in the Garden Chapel of Morrisons Funeral Home, 220 Universal Drive Henderson.
LAWSON, John Passed away on 3 Dec 2024 after a short illness. He was a respected member of sales and Travelcentre teams who had a celebration of his life on 26 January
DOVE, James Eric Passed away on Thursday 31 October 2024, aged 94. The Funeral Service was held on Thursday 7 November 2024 at 11.00am
BISSETT, Bob Family friend emailed to say Bob had passed away peacefully at Evelyn Page Retirement Village on 5 January 2025 at the grand old age of 98
COMMITTEE NEWS
We continue to seek members who would like to join the committee to contribute to further progressing the club's activities. There are six meetings annually at The Hub in Quay St so it is not too time consuming. If you enjoy bringing a bit of happiness to others, then please contact any of the committee members listed in this newsletter. Have Your Say - Survey Results
As no emails were received from members, we hope this indicates general satisfaction with the club, and that our members are happy to attend or not attend events that the committee promote. The good attendances at lunches and often poor turnout for other events demonstrates that lunches are popular and meeting and fellowship is an important component.
YOUR COMMITTEE
President / Treasurer Gaye Mears gayemears45@gmail.com
Secretary Antoinette Nelson antoinette@outlook.co.nz
Past President Jo Foged jonjosie.foged@xtra.co.nz
Committee Peter Elmsly, Jo Foged, Tanya Somerville, Maggie Willis,
Margaret Holden, Peter Burn
Contact us airnzretirees@gmail.com
Patron Richard Thomson | CFO at Air New Zealand
NAME BADGES
We encourage you to wear name badges at lunches and on any trips. It makes it so much easier when you know a face but can't quite remember the name that goes with it so please order yours now if you plan to attend any of the events coming up. Cost is $15 for pin-on badge and $20 for magnetic type. Please note that badges will be handed out at the next event you attend.
CURRENT PAYMENT OPTIONS
You must be a fully paid up member to attend club events.
Annual membership fees are $ 15.00 per person. You can pay into our bank account online banking (direct debit or direct credit), by phone banking, or at a Smart ATM.
Air NZ Retirees Club
Account: ANZ 06-0222-0851695-00
Particulars: Your Surname
Code: SUBS
Reference: Your phone number
**IMPORTANT
All payments must have the full Club Bank Account name - Air New Zealand Retired Staff Club (Nthn)
COMPANY NEWS
Regular media releases are published online by Air New Zealand and you can access these from our website under the heading Links.
This is the first time I have received a Newsletter for some time, not too sure why, but nevertheless moving on, I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to all those involved in producing such a very professional and newsy document, now looking forward to the next Newsletter; again THANK YOU for your hard work.