New Zealand's GCH Aviation Group has boosted its investment in tourism infrastructure with the purchase of rotary operator Tasman Helicopters in Nelson. GCH chief executive Andrew Currie says: “The purchase of Tasman Helicopters expands our group's scenic and commercial aviation services across New Zealand and the Pacific, establishing it as one of New Zealand's major tourism aviation providers. The process of purchasing Tasman started before the COVID-19 situation but we pressed ahead, as we see it as an important part of our premium tourism offering going forward. We have a diversified portfolio of aviation businesses, which means we can still look for opportunities to strengthen our commercial and tourism offering.

“We have our sights firmly fixed on the premium tourism sector. We want to ensure our clients are given the very best experience from the minute they arrive in the country either by their own private jets or ours to when they get out to explore New Zealand.”

Nelson, on New Zealand's South Island, boasts a coastal environment, a selection of luxury lodges and access to the Abel Tasman National Park.

Logan Moore, who previously owned Tasman Helicopters, will stay on with GCH Aviation and the business will run under the Tasman Helicopters brand. “We are delighted to add Logan's tourism expertise to our business,” Currie adds.

The GCH Aviation Group already has a significant aviation base in Nelson which includes commercial helicopters, an air rescue helicopter as well as a New Zealand Flying Doctor air ambulance operation. Tasman Helicopters will be an addition to this operation, working from the same office.

The purchase of Tasman helicopters adds to the GCH Aviation tourism portfolio, which has been growing steadily in the past few years. The group purchased Kaikoura Helicopters last year, and the company has other helicopter operations in Christchurch, Greymouth, Wellington, Fiji and Vanuatu. The GCH Aviation Group also includes certified flight training, air rescue and air ambulance operations based at its headquarters in Christchurch.

The group's 9,000 sqm Christchurch headquarters has direct access to the Christchurch airport runway and dedicated helipads. It includes Christchurch's first 24 hour full-service jet centre for the South Island's rapidly growing corporate aviation market, with hangar parking and overnight facilities for jets, a private terminal, ground handling, catering, plus Ministry of Primary Industry and Customs services. It added a 10-seat Bombardier Challenger 604 to its fleet in March of this year.

Established in 1983, GCH Aviation holds the Helicopter Association of New Zealand Diamond Safety Award for over 30 years continuous service without injury or accident to self, passengers or crew. It also holds a 100 per cent Pure New Zealand Qualmark Gold endorsement, and is the only NZ Aviation company to be an approved Virtuoso luxury network supplier.