New Zealand Aerial Mapping Ltd (NZAM) was an aerial surveying company in New Zealand from 1936 to 2014. Founded by aviator Piet Van Asch, NZAM primarily operated out of Bridge Pa Aerodrome, Hastings. NZAM attained the Government License to survey in 1937 and held this license for 78 years. The company was sold in 2005 and went into liquidation in 2014.
Background
History of aerial mapping in New Zealand Prior to NZAM, most aerial surveying of New Zealand was undertaken by the Royal New Zealand Air Force (then the New Zealand Permanent Air Force). This was the common international approach, as this stemmed from the military's desire for knowledge of land and its features of defence and reconnaissance. In 1935, the New Zealand Government established the National Mapping Committee under the Organisation for National Security. With much of the country not easily accessible by road, and limits to topographical maps, the Government acknowledged that aerial surveying was the most economical approach to mapping, and a coordinated approach to mapping was required.
Establishment of NZAM Main Article: Piet van Asch
New Zealand Aerial Mapping Limited was founded in Hastings, by aviator Piet van Asch in early 1936. Van Asch was born in Waitotara in 1911, and was brought up on his parents' sheep farm near Havelock North. He developed an interest in photography and flying during his time at Christ's College. In December 1934, van Asch gained an 'A' pilot's license, and began to make a name for himself with oblique aerial photographs and photographs of livestock. In 1935, van Asch declared his interest in starting a company specialising in aerial photography and mapping. Four days after establishing the company, Piet received shareholder permission to travel to London in search for an appropriate aircraft. After a year in England, van Asch bought a Monospar SST25 twin engine aircraft directly from the General Aircraft factory in Feltham, England, for £1450. The Monospar was named the Manu Rere (registered as ZK-AFF). The company made Bridge Pa Aerodrome, Hastings its base of operations.
1930s–1940s
Early surveys In 1937, NZAM were granted the Government Contract to survey. The first survey undertaken was a geological survey in April of that year. The survey, of Richardson Range in Otago covered nearly 300 square miles (780 square kilometres). The plane flew at 11,000 feet, and the result was 843 frame of photography. After the success of the Richardson Range survey, NZAM started carrying out work for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and the Public Works Department.
1938 After completing a full year in business, NZAM acquired several new contracts, and made upgrades to the Monospar. In 1938, the first commission for the Land and Survey Department was undertaken, which lead to the purchase of new equipment, including a new camera. To reduce maintenance time between flights, NZAM acquired a new Pobjoy engine, for £345. Due to the tight finances of the company, one of the directors, Hugh Chambers purchased the engine and loaned it to the company. Founder Piet van Asch also completed several flights on the Monospar with guests on board. One of the most notable was in April 1938, when van Asch invited German Count Felix von Luckner and his wife on a flight from Gisborne to Bridge Pa. Von Luckner was a WWI German war hero, who was well known to New Zealanders due to his seamanship, which saw very little loss of life on both sides. Nonetheless, this drew attention due to rising tensions with Germany. 1938 also saw the NZAM workforce grow, hiring a chief photographer, Lloyd Wilson, a darkroom worker, John Cameron and Peter Marshall as photographer-navigator. From their first year of flying, gross income for NZAM (to June 1938) was £4322. NZAM did not pay dividends until after the Second World War.
World War Two Prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, the Royal New Zealand Air Force had continued to undertake mapping projects. There were attempts to place pressure placed on van Asch to merge NZAM with the RNZAF, however, the Minister for Works, Hon. Robert Semple said 'Leave van Asch alone. He's doing a good job'. However, it became apparent that RNZAF resources were required elsewhere, so it suspended its aerial mapping programme, and NZAM took on a vital role in defensive mapping projects. The New Zealand Government wished to update maps of 'special areas' for defence purposes, and so the RNZAF contracted NZAM to take on this task. The RNZAF provided airforce and refuelling facilities for NZAM to use. To all intents, van Asch and his crew were described as 'airmen in mufti', and the RNZAF and NZAM had an excellent working relationship. NZAM played an integral part in national security efforts during this period, as it camouflaged important Military facilities, including Devonport naval base, Hobsonville, Whenuapai and Wigram on maps the company created. NZAM saw several personnel opt to leave to take a more active role in the war, including Peter Marshall who enlisted as a pilot in 1941. Marshall's plane went down before completing his first tour of operations, so spent the rest of the war as a prisoner in Germany.
NZAM's second aircraft – Beechcraft AT-11 By 1943, it was clear that the Monospar was inadequate to undertake all of this. NZAM took delivery of a bigger, more powerful aircraft, a Beechcraft AT-11 from RNZAF. The Beechcraft AT-11 was a new, American advanced trainer, which offered increased flight times, a service ceiling height of 20,000ft and an excellent view through the perspex nose. This was the first time a private company had taken delivery of a government purchased aircraft. As part of the agreement, NZAM would have sole use of the aircraft, and pay the Government per square mile that was produced. It was shipped to New Zealand and assembled at Hobsonville airbase, before being equipped with cameras in Palmerston North. It was named the Manu Ruuri ('bird to measure'). By June 1944, NZAM had photographed a total of 25,570 square miles (66,200 square kilometres) for the war effort. 97 topographical sheets had been published. Income from aerial mapping jumped to almost £15,000 by 1943. The success of the war effort placed NZAM firmly as the Government's contractor of choice. The Manu Rere was retired fully after the conclusion of the war, in 1946.
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