Kiwi Tales podcasts and videos of Kiwis with interesting stories to tell.
I really enjoy interacting with people on a one on one basis, and trying to understand what makes them tick, and how they came to be where they are in their life today.
I have encountered so many people in my life that have such interesting stories to tell, and have their own unique perspective on the world, and I often find myself thinking what a shame it is we will never know their story.
These people are not always those we might imagine them to be. There are people who live their life quietly without a word as to what they’ve done in their past. There are old folks who have done things in younger days that we would think impossible now.
Everyone has a story to tell, and that is my goal with this little idea, to try and tell them, and in doing so to encourage, provide hope, and to inspire.
Credit NZ Flag Image: vecteezy.com
Kiwi Tales #23: Dick Deaker - Legendary Helicopter & Venison Recovery Pilot
Dick Deaker is a legendary name in New Zealand aviation circles, especially in the Fiordland deer recovery scene.
He began his working career straight out of school as a deer culler for the NZ Forest Service, purchased his first aircraft (Tiger Moth ZK-AIW) at the age of 21, and in the years since has amassed six decades of helicopter flying in NZ and in various countries overseas.
In this interview we discuss Dick's early flying years, some of his amazing helicopters stories, and he also passes on various simple, common sense gems regarding safety and managing risk.
This interview refers to stories from the book "Aerial Hunter: The Dick Deaker Story", by Graeme Marshall.
PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!
0:00 Introduction
2:20 Early Years
9:31 First Deer
11:22 School Exams
15:58 Pilot Exams
20:30 Deer Culler NZFS
46:37 Learning to Fly
49:22 Tiger Moth ZK-AIW
1:15:23 Piper Cub ZK-BPM
1:19:32 Sax and Gordon Anderson (Spunky)
1:27:45 Grebe Strip
1:34:25 Kea Damage up the Forgotten River
1:36:12 Managing Risk1:43:19 Helicopter Flying
1:52:53 Live Capture
2:00:04 Engine Failures
2:05:20 Family Life
2:11:28 Sports Illustrated Article
2:23:19 Gary Hollows
2:26:43 Morgan Saxton
2:30:17 Helicopter Safety
2:33:34 British Columbia
2:36:30 Mexico Accident
2:48:41 Takahe
2:50:30 Kakapo
2:59:08 Final Questions
17 Jul 2026
Kiwi Tales #22: Allan Graham - SAFE AIR Pilot and Self Confessed Workaholic
Allan Graham has had an action packed life, including over 60 years of flying, boat building, running business, building motels, plus much much more.He flew for SAFE AIR for 21 years, and has many thousands of hours on the Bristol Freighter and Argosy aircraft, so has many stories to tell.PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!0:00 Introduction8:54 Early Life17:07 Learning to Fly22:52 Getting Commercial Pilot Licence28:31 Near Tragedy in Piper Seneca30:40 Tri-Pacer ZK-BLC Accident36:55 Working for Canterbury Aero Club41:24 Bryan Antill Accident44:57 Marlborough Aero Club CFI Role53:25 Venison Recovery in Cub ZK-BPG1:01:21 More MAC Stories1:13:57 New Job with SAFE AIR1:16:24 Flying the Bristol Freighter1:23:39 Flying to the Chatham Islands1:36:00 Bristol Freighter ZK-CPT Walkaround at Omaka2:20:12 SAFE Argosy UFO Incident2:22:22 Flying the Argosy2:24:11 Boat Building/Sailing2:29:35 Tragedy in the Tasman2:35:44 Basil Brush Incident2:46:38 Mussel Farming2:54:22 Fruit Orchard2:58:22 Beginnings of Straits Air3:01:24 Closing of SAFE AIR3:06:14 Final Bristol Formation3:11:25 Final Argosy Flight3:17:58 The Future of Bristol ZK-CPT and Argosy ZK-SAE3:23:38 New Air Nelson Saab Operation3:30:21 Straits Air3:36:29 New Origin Pacific Jetstream Operation3:41:15 Jetstream Ferry Flights from England3:51:16 Ferrying ZK-JSX to Pennsylvania3:58:45 Vincent Aviation4:05:40 Flight Examining4:08:14 Final Questions4:15:36 Simon Green4:17:34 Noel Boyd4:21:26 Alan Duncan4:24:14 Bill Black4:29:26 Paul Davidson's Argosy/SAFE Museum
12 May 2026
Kiwi Tales #21: Frank Wright - Serial Beaver Rebuilder (plus a whole lot more ...)
Frank Wright is known for his high quality aircraft rebuilds, however he has had a lifetime of adventures (both in and out of aviation) including barefoot waterskiing, pacific ferry flying, jet boating, venison recovery with Supercub and helicopter, movie star, and many others.PLEASE "LIKE" AND "SUBSCRIBE" IF YOU ENJOYED THIS VIDEO. IT HELPS A LOT. THANKYOU!0:00 Introduction10:34 Early Aviation Memories14:32 Sheet Metal Apprenticeship17:29 Australia24:49 Manapouri Hydro Scheme23:49 Papua New Guinea27:30 Tunisia30:38 California Road Trip32:41 Hawaii38:16 C206 Rebuild40:30 C206 Ferry Flight to NZ54:56 Back in NZ1:01:02 Jet Boating1:05:22 Meeting Kay1:09:33 Coffee Shop/Ice Cream Parlour1:12:16 Supercub ZK-BRO1:21:08 Introduction to Helicopters1:25:27 Dave Saxton1:35:03 Hughes 300 B Model Purchase1:38:49 Venison Recovery from Helicopter1:42:57 Live Capture1:45:58 Ron Connell1:48:06 Wapiti Capture1:51:24 Goats/H300 Accident1:58:34 Race for the Yankee Zephyr2:03:33 Cray Fishing2:12:45 Kaimai Downs2:17:39 Aircraft Restorations2:23:06 Vietnam2:25:26 India2:30:01 Concorde2:33:44 Misc Ventures and Stories2:36:26 Final Questions2:47:10 More Stories
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