July 2025
- lovebytenz
- Jul 10
- 7 min read
WELCOME
Welcome to all our Club members, especially our new members, and Happy 85th Birthday year to Air New Zealand. Winter arrived with a bang, bringing with it a few stunning sunny days - just enough to enjoy a warm spot in the sun. Unfortunately, the good weather was short-lived, and we’ve now returned to rainy days, with severe flooding reported across the country.
We’re thinking of our fellow club members in the Central and Southern regions and hope you're not too badly affected. We also hope everyone is managing to steer clear of the nasty flu bugs doing the rounds. Stay safe and well!
There are a few events coming up that may be of interest to our club members, so please check them out and book early.
AGM & Mid-Winter Lunch
A happy group of 65 members and friends attended the AGM on Wednesday 18 June 2025. President Gaye Mears called for a minute's silence in memory of members who had passed away since the last AGM.
The minutes of the previous AGM and those of the Special Meeting held in September 2024 were confirmed. There were no matters arising from those meetings. The President's report and financial statements were presented and passed without comment. The meeting confirmed the Club committee's proposal that the annual dues remain at $15.00. The election of officers and committee resulted in the current incumbents being voted in. They are as follows:
President/Treasurer Gaye Mears
Immediate Past President Jo Foged
Secretary Antoinette Nelson
Committee Peter Burn, Peter Elmsly, Margaret Holden, Tania Somerville, Maggie Willis
There were no nominations from the floor, but the committee would welcome anyone who wishes to participate in the running of the club to come forward.
Share your Story
Laurie Hamlet shares his story
Laurie was born in Epsom, Auckland on 16th of June 1923, the oldest of five. His early years were spent living in and around the city and Devonport, finally settling back in Orakei in 1939. He attended high school at Sacred Heart College, Ponsonby which did not last due to the depression years and family occupational difficulties, so he had to start earning to help out.
He learnt to be an auto electrician, but when he turned 18 years in 1941, due to world war 2 starting in 1939, he was obliged to join the military so the Airforce it was. The Japanese entry into the conflict meant the NZ Air Force operated in the Pacific ocean area. After training and serving on two NZ stations, Laurie joined No. 15 Fighter Squadron, to be sent North to the Tongan Islands to take over an American Squadron operating there. Then on through Fiji, New Hebrides to the Solomons. By October 1942, his period of Duty was completed, (approximately six months), then he was back home at under 21 years old. His NZ service lasted for an extended period before being sent away again, this time to join No. 5 Squadron, servicing Catalinas on Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu, then onto the Ellis Islands - a period of Duty similar to the first effort. He returned home to serve until discharge April 1946.
Back at work again, Laurie met and married wife Patricia in 1949, and raised three children Michael, Craig and Gillian. They gave up renting properties and decided to live in Howick, and over an approximate 50 year period built two houses. Laurie is now living in an apartment in Howick having lost Patricia in 2015 after a glorious 66 years.
He left the automotive trade and joined Air New Zealand in 1969, being placed in the instrument section of the Avionics department - a deep learning curve through the periodic change of aircraft types Electra, DC8, DC10, 747, 767 !! Off the bench during the 747 era into Technical Services taking on Defect Investigation where he lasted until retiring in December 1987. He was not actively working on aircraft, but components only, and was fortunate in being sent to General Electric Company in Boston Massachusetts USA to learn structural vertical reading tape engine monitoring instruments as those fitted to the new DC10s - (Enter the digital world). There was no further company travel, but they experienced personal travel through Staff Travel to Malaysia, Pacific Islands, Canada and USA three times (family connections) and UK and Europe. The visit to Niagara Falls, the CN Tower in Toronto, and driving from Calgary through the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver were a standout experience.
Laurie’s personal interests still centre around motor sport Motor GP, sailing Sail GP, and aircraft - mainly restoration of World War II - such as the P40, P39, Mosquito etc. In the past years sailing was his main activity, expanding from sailing dinghies to keel boats with the Jewel in the Crown, crewing on a 34 foot craft to New Caledonia and back. Advancing years has meant many joys for Laurie, at 97 he was introduced to go karting, where three rounds at a local Go Kart track raised the blood pressure.
He has just recently had his driving licence renewed at the wonderful age of 102.
At 98/99 he was taken for a flight in a just completed two seat conversion of a P40 Kitty Hawk out over the Thames gulf, Hunua ranges and lakes, then a barrel roll over Clevedon on the way back to Ardmore. Having reached 100 years, Laurie was in the air again, this time in a small two seat helicopter “magic” and added to this was three laps of Hampton Downs race track as a passenger in a Lamborghini sports car - not much different to flying really but with your feet on the ground, says Laurie. Year 101 saw him in a helicopter again, this time being able to take over the controls flying over the Whitford Forest - Lucky me!! says Laurie. Laurie says - not easy putting 102 years of his life on foolscap paper but there it is.
UPCOMING EVENT
Kelly Tarltons
Date: Wednesday 06 August 2025
Location: Kelly Tarltons
Time: Meet at 10:30am Cost: $25.00 per person with Gold Card
Bookings Close: 04 August 2025
Meet the rest of the Air NZ Retirees Group at 10:30am. Bring along a friend if you would like to, just make their booking with yours. There is a cafe next door, bookings not required. This cafe does not take cash, only cards, so please bring with you.
UPCOMING EVENT
Howick Historical Village
Date: Wednesday 17 September 2025
Location: Howick Historical Village
Time: Lunch at 12:30pm Cost: $32.00 per person
Bookings Close: 12 September 2025
Join us for a High tea luncheon which includes sandwiches & savouries, scone with cream & jam, two sweet treats, and tea/coffee. The cost also includes free visit to the Historic Village. Lunch begins at 12:30pm and you may stroll around the Village either before or after this. Bring along a friend if you would like to, just make their booking with yours.
SAVE THE DATE
Exact details to be advised in next newsletter
NZ Sculpture on the Shore 13 Nov '25 at Fort Takapuna 170 Vauxhall Road, Devonport | Entry Cost 25.00 per person Christmas Lunch 03 Dec '25 Special Buffet Lunch with Jim Joll playing Christmas Music
Resources
Netsafe - Digital Safety Basics
You might remember Netsafe’s Get Set Up for Safety toolkit, released in April 2024, a series of online safety guides, videos and printed pamphlets created especially for older adults. Since launch, these resources have been very popular, especially with community organisations that support older people. Netsafe recently introduced the second phase of this initiative, packed with even more practical tools and support designed to help older people stay safe, confident, and connected online. Make use of over 20 free resources available to the public to view, print, download and share, including spotting and avoiding online scams, Staying safe while dating online, exploring AI tools with confidence.
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.
Tim Cowling 1977 - 2018 Airline Operations Michael Connal 1976 - 1983 Engineering Margaret Jones 1983 - 2020 Air NZ Holidays/Tandem Travel
OBITUARIES
RACKLEY, Rollend Passed away peacefully at Elizabeth Knox Home on Tuesday, 17th June 2025. A service was held at St. George's Anglican Church, on Wednesday, 25th June
YOUR COMMITTEE
Following our AGM the Club Committee remains the same. Members considering joining our thriving committee are invited to contact either Antoinette Nelson or Gaye Mears.
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: 06-0222-0851695-00
Particulars: Your Surname
Code: SUBS
Reference: Your phone number
Payee 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.
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