Established in 1978 by local farmers led by John Atkins and pilot Gordon Herbert, the Co-op is the longest running aerial topdressing and spraying operation in New Zealand under the same ownership.
Set up at a time when aerial agriculture was a restricted activity in New Zealand and new licenses were virtually impossible to obtain,
the Co-op was established to circumvent the system to provide an aerial topdressing service to farmers in the Lower North Island.
Currently the 180 shareholders and a similar number of non-shareholder clients are serviced from our home base south of Pahiatua, the base featuring a sealed airstrip, hangar, truck workshop and bulk fuel facilities.
The original objective of providing a realistically priced reliable service hasn't changed, with a number of shareholders being the third generation to use our service.
Set up at a time when aerial agriculture was a restricted activity in New Zealand and new licenses were virtually impossible to obtain,
the Co-op was established to circumvent the system to provide an aerial topdressing service to farmers in the Lower North Island.
Currently the 180 shareholders and a similar number of non-shareholder clients are serviced from our home base south of Pahiatua, the base featuring a sealed airstrip, hangar, truck workshop and bulk fuel facilities.
The original objective of providing a realistically priced reliable service hasn't changed, with a number of shareholders being the third generation to use our service.
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The Co-op operates two Air Tractor AT402B airtractor.com/aircraft/at-402b/aircraft, being current production aircraft with a proven reliability and safety record around the world.
Both are fitted with the larger Pratt and Whitney PT6A-34AG turboprop engine of 750 HP, these aircraft get through the work with an unparalleled spread both in swath width and evenness of swath.
Fitted with the latest Tracmap GPS guidance system and hydraulic variable rate system, the Co-op has arguably the most modern, technically advanced and capable aircraft for the job.
Both are fitted with the larger Pratt and Whitney PT6A-34AG turboprop engine of 750 HP, these aircraft get through the work with an unparalleled spread both in swath width and evenness of swath.
Fitted with the latest Tracmap GPS guidance system and hydraulic variable rate system, the Co-op has arguably the most modern, technically advanced and capable aircraft for the job.
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Andrew CuttanceCHIEF PILOT - 021 511 654
An experienced agricultural pilot with over 20 years in the industry, most of it based in Pahiatua and flying for the RAC.
Andrew is a born and bred Pahiatua boy having grown up on the family farm outside Pahiatua, where moved on to become an automotive technician before entering the Ag aviation industry as a loader driver over 20 years ago. Andrew has been instrumental in setting up the variable rate system into the Co-ops aircraft and is the ‘problem solver’ keeping the fertiliser moving despite our area being a challenging climate for topdressing. Husband to Kate and father to Neroli and John, apart from his family commitments Andrew’s spare is taken up beekeeping and pottering around his lifestyle block. |
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Kurt WieldraayerPILOT - 027 448 6747
Although only a youngin’ hailing from Mackenzie Country, Kurt has been in the industry since a teenager, with his lifelong passion being to become an Ag pilot.
After loading for several years in the Central North Island, his first flying job was in Australia’s Riverina District spraying and fertilising crops, mainly rice. Flying for the Co-op since early 2021, Kurt has taken to the Airtractor like a duck to water, and along with his Aussie lady Stacie they enjoy living in the Tararua District. |
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Neil Daysh
LOADER DRIVER
Local man through and through Neil has been a loader driver since the 1980’s, and his experience around aircraft, knowledge of the local area and its farmers are second to none.
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John JuddLOADER DRIVER
Local boy , who has been loading since 2016, John has a background as an engineering background prior to support Andrew in the loader.
Aviation is in the blood, with John’s father being a Hurricane pilot in the Battle of Britain, as well as being a keen and competitive Aero-modeller. |